nonfeasance
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
nonfeasance
A failure to act when the law required an action.Real estate brokers are supposed to deposit earnest money checks as soon as possible. If the broker neglects to deposit the check, he or she is guilty of a nonfeasance, even if there was no improper motive and no misuse of the funds. Likewise, if local fire codes require fire extinguishers in the hallways of an office building, and the owner fails to install them, it is guilty of nonfeasance and may be liable for injuries and damages if there is a fire. Contrast with misfeasance, which is doing a legal and proper thing but in an improper manner, and malfeasance which is doing something improper or unlawful.
The Complete Real Estate Encyclopedia by Denise L. Evans, JD & O. William Evans, JD. Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.