Standard Lemma guide

peculate

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

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

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To embezzle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: rare

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

appropriate (as property entrusted to one's care) fraudulently to one's own use

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The accountant embezzled thousands of dollars while working for the wealthy family

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: embezzle, defalcate, misappropriate, malversate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: steal

Narrower terms: fiddle

History

Etymology

From Latin pecūlātus, past participle of pecūlor (“defraud, embezzle”).