Defalcates

/dɪˈfælkeɪts/ verb

Definition

Third-person singular present tense of defalcate; he, she, or it steals or embezzles money that was entrusted to their care.

Etymology

Present tense conjugation of 'defalcate' with the '-s' ending. Maintains the Latin root structure where the financial theft meaning has completely replaced the original sense of physical cutting.

Kelly Says

In corporate crime documentaries, you'll hear detectives describe how a dishonest employee 'defalcates company funds'—it's the formal way auditors and law enforcement describe what amounts to stealing from your employer's bank account.

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