verb
- past tense of peculate; to steal or misappropriate money or property entrusted to one’s care, especially public funds
Usage: formal; legal
Examples
- The treasurer peculated thousands of dollars from the charity fund.
- Officials discovered that the accountant had peculated public money over several years.
- She was arrested after investigators found she had peculated campaign contributions.
- The audit revealed that someone had peculated funds meant for school supplies.
- He peculated small amounts regularly, thinking no one would notice.
- The former mayor was convicted of having peculated taxpayer money for personal use.