peculation

noun

pec·u·la·tion ˌpe-kyə-ˈlā-shən

: misappropriation especially of public funds

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin peculation-, peculatio, from Latin peculari to embezzle, from peculium private property, from pecu cattle

Podcast

Share
- Share
Subscribe
Subscribe
- Amazon Music
- Apple Podcasts
- CastBox
- Google Podcasts
- iHeartRadio
- Pocket Casts
- RadioPublic
- Spotify
- Stitcher
- TuneIn
- RSS
Download
Description

Advertising 0 / 0

|

00:00 / 00:00

| Skip

Listen on

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

Style

“Peculation.” Merriam-Webster.com Legal Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/peculation. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

gustatory

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples

Popular in Wordplay

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Popular

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms