verb
- steals or misappropriates money or property entrusted to one’s care, especially public funds
Usage: formal; legal
Examples
- The treasurer peculates funds from the charity organization.
- Officials who peculate public money face serious criminal charges.
- The investigation revealed that he peculates small amounts regularly.
- She was accused of peculating taxpayer dollars for personal use.
- The audit discovered that someone peculates from the pension fund.
- Anyone who peculates government resources violates public trust.