abuse of authority

abuse — 1 /ə byüz/ vt abused, abus·ing 1: to put to a use other than the one intended: as a: to put to a bad or unfair use abusing the powers of office b: to put to improper or excessive use abuse narcotics …   Law dictionary

authority — au·thor·i·ty n pl ties 1: an official decision of a court used esp. as a precedent 2 a: a power to act esp. over others that derives from status, position, or office the authority of the president; also: jurisdiction b: the power to act …   Law dictionary

Abuse — This article is about the mistreatment of people or systems. For other uses, see Abuse (disambiguation). Mistreat redirects here. For other uses, see Mistreat (disambiguation). Contents 1 Types and contexts of abuse 1.1 …   Wikipedia

abuse — 1. noun /əˈbjuːs,əˈbjus/ a) Improper treatment or usage; application to a wrong or bad purpose; misuse; perversion. Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty, as well as by the abuses of power. b) Physical or verbal …   Wiktionary

abuse of power — Improper use of authority by someone who has that authority because he or she holds a public office. Dictionary from West s Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. abuse of power Improper use of authority b …   Law dictionary

Abuse — A*buse , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abused}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Abusing}.] [F. abuser; L. abusus, p. p. of abuti to abuse, misuse; ab + uti to use. See {Use}.] 1. To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to misuse; to put to a bad use; to use for a wrong… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

authority — n. control power 1) to assume; delegate; demonstrate, show; establish; exercise, wield; invoke authority 2) to defy; deny, reject; undermine authority 3) absolute, complete, full, supreme, unquestioned; parental authority 4) authority for; over… …   Combinatory dictionary

abuse — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun 1 wrong/bad use of sth ADJECTIVE ▪ alcohol, drug, solvent, substance (= drugs, etc.) ▪ systematic, widespread ▪ flagrant …   Collocations dictionary

abuse — /abyiiws/ 1. noun Everything which is contrary to good order established by usage. Departure from reasonable use; immoderate or improper use. Physical or mental maltreatment. Misuse. Deception. To wrong in speech, reproach coarsely, disparage,… …   Black's law dictionary

abuse — 1 noun 1 (C, U) the use of something in a way that it should not be used (+ of): government officials abuse of power | open to abuse (=able or likely to be used in the wrong way): The city s metro system is open to abuse by fare dodgers. |… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

abuse — abusable /euh byooh zeuh beuhl/, adj. abuser, n. v. /euh byoohz /; n. /euh byoohs /, v., abused, abusing, n. v.t. 1. to use wrongly or improperly; misuse: to abuse one s authority. 2. to treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way: to abuse a …   Universalium