Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
noun
A detriment or disadvantage
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: encumbrance, hindrance, nuisance, obstacle, drawback
Antonyms: benefit, advantage, aid, assistance, boon, foredeal, help
History
Attested from 1700s. Learned borrowing from Latin malefit, modeled on benefit. Equivalent to French malfaire.
