Malefactor/ˈmælɪfæktər/ Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Legal Context Primarily used in legal or formal contexts to describe someone who commits crimes. The court sentenced the malefactor to ten years in prison. Pro Tip 2/3Severity The term often implies serious wrongdoing or significant harm. After the investigation, the malefactor was linked to multiple burglaries. Pro Tip 3/3Not Gender-Specific Despite 'male' in 'malefactor', it can refer to people of any gender. The female malefactor was last seen near the jewellery store.