What is the act of taking funds for one's own use, typically while in a position of trust?

The act of taking funds for one's own use, particularly while in a position of trust, is specifically defined as embezzlement. This crime involves the wrongful or illegal appropriation of funds that one has been entrusted to manage or oversee.

To qualify as embezzlement, the perpetrator must usually have lawful possession of the funds due to their role or position, and then they misappropriate those funds for personal gain. The key element here is that the individual has a fiduciary duty or a role that involves trust, differentiating embezzlement from other types of theft.

In contrast, thievery refers more broadly to the act of stealing without the particular context of trust involved. Fraudulence implies deceit to gain an advantage or property but does not specifically address the misappropriation aspect. Misuse is a vague term that could apply to various improper uses of resources or authority but does not capture the legal specifics of taking funds while in a trusted position. Therefore, embezzlement is the term that accurately describes this particular act.