verb
- stealing or misappropriating money or property entrusted to one’s care, especially public funds
Usage: formal; legal
Examples
- The treasurer was caught peculating funds from the charity.
- Officials suspected him of peculating taxpayer money.
- She was fired for peculating from the company’s accounts.
- The audit revealed evidence of peculating behavior.
- He spent years peculating small amounts to avoid detection.
- The investigation focused on whether anyone was peculating public resources.