peculation

noun

1. (countable, historical, uncountable)The wrongful appropriation or embezzlement of shared or public property, usually by a person entrusted with the guardianship of that property.

   “[The Chief Magistrate] might pervert his administration into a scheme of peculation or oppression.”

   “Sir Pitt Crawley (named after the great Commoner) was the son of Walpole Crawley, first Baronet, of the Tape and Sealing-Wax Office in the reign of George II., when he was impeached for peculation, as were a great number of other honest gentlemen of those days ...”

   “They were obliged to show that they were working for a living, and had some honestly-acquired means of existence. All who could not do so were placed upon public works at low wages, and thus were kept from the temptation to peculation or other crimes, which the excitement of newly-acquired freedom, and disinclination to labour, might have led them into.”

   “Bulfinch, a solicitor at Redcastle, came to him with irrefragable proofs of gross peculation on the part of the bailiff.”

   “She considered herself engaged to be married to a Scotch propaganda officer who had been dismissed for peculation and gone home to sell cars.”