misconduct

Noun

misconduct (usually uncountable, plural misconducts)

1. (usually) Behavior that is considered to be unacceptable.
   • The student was banned from using the university's computing resources for two weeks due to gross misconduct on the Internet.
2. (usually) A penalty or write-up for improper behavior.
   • There is definitely an indication of retaliation in this case. I have never received a misconduct for possessing or using drugs.1989 December 17, Edward Inman, “Disobeying An Order To Piss Lands Transsexual In Isolation”, in Gay Community News, volume 17, number 23, page 5
   • After Jonathan Marchessault buried an empty-net goal with 90 seconds left in overtime, Hartman yelled from the bench and allegedly threw his stick in the officials’ direction. Hartman was assessed a misconduct for abusive language, according to the game sheet.2024 March 31, Michael Russo, “Wild’s Ryan Hartman offered hearing for throwing stick in direction of officials”, in New York Times

Verb

IPA/mɪskənˈdʌkt/

misconduct (third-person singular simple present misconducts, present participle misconducting, simple past and past participle misconducted)

1. (transitive) To mismanage.
2. (reflexive) To behave inappropriately, to misbehave.
   • It had been pointed out […] that in the past enemy aliens misconducting themselves had been returned to the internment camp.1958, Doris Lessing, A Ripple From the Storm, Harper Perennal, published 1995, page 224
3. (intransitive, rare) To act improperly.
   • The quartermasters have misconducted, and the government should bear the loss resulting from that misconduct.1869, Ebenezer Peck, “Spear v. United States: Dissenting Opinion”, in Charles C. Nott, Samuel H. Huntington, editors, Cases Decided in the Court of Claims of the United States, at the December Term...
   • It seems no answer for the recipient to allege that he was incompetent and misconducted, but that the acts were committed outside the jurisdiction.1881, William Stawell, “In re Victoria Steam Navigation Board, ex parte Allan”, in George H. F. Webb, editor, The Victorian Law Reports, volumes 7, 1881—XLIV and XLV Victoriæ, published 1882, page 264