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Malefactor
A person who commits a crime; an offender.
noun💡
Imagine This
Disposing household chemicals into the drain is one of the bad factors in polluting the Bay. The male factor is a critical issue in today’s prison since the majority of criminals are male.
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Sounds Like
MAL-uh-FAK-tor (ˈmæləˌfæktər)
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Looks Like
mal(bad)_factor; male_factor
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Remember This
The prefix mal- means bad (as in malicious, malnourished). The component fac- means 'to do' (from facere); -tor denotes a person who performs the action.
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Other Forms
malefactionnoun
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Connect With
criminal, offender, wrongdoer, delinquent, felon
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Note
Malefactor is a formal, somewhat old-fashioned term for a criminal. Do not confuse with maleficent (causing harm) or with felon (a specific type of criminal).
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The malefactor was identified by security footage and arrested the next day.
- In classic detective novels, the malefactor is often portrayed as clever and ruthless.
Synonyms
criminaloffenderwrongdoerfelondelinquent
Antonyms
benefactordo-goodervirtuous person
Etymology
From Latin malefactor meaning 'evil-doer,' from malus 'bad' + facere 'to do'; via Old French malefacteur.
Mnemonic
Mnemonic: MAL = bad; FAC = to do; TOR = one who does. A malefactor is a 'bad doer.'
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Conventional
adjectiveBased on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed; traditional or ordinary rather than new or experimental.
Penitent
adjectiveFeeling remorseful for one’s wrongdoings and showing a desire to make amends; repentant.
Aesthetic
adjectiveRelating to beauty or the arts; concerned with the appreciation or perception of beauty and good taste.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abasement
nounThe act or instance of humiliating or degrading someone; the state of being lowered in dignity or status.
Absurdity
nounThe quality or state of being wildly unreasonable, illogical, or ridiculous; something that is completely contrary to reason or common sense.
Accent
nounA distinctive way of pronouncing words; the act of emphasizing a syllable or word (as a verb, to accent means to emphasize).
Accolade
nounAn honor; a public expression of praise or an award.
Acrimony
nounBitterness of speech or manner; ill feeling
Acronym
nounA word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).
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