[ noun ] cruel or inhumane treatment <noun.act> the child showed signs of physical abuse
maltreatment \mal*treat"ment\, n.; [Cf. F. maltraitement.] Cruel or inhumane treatment; ill usage; abuse.
Syn: ill-treatment.
Even when a home visit based on an anonymous report turns up no evidence of maltreatment, workers usually interview neighbors, teachers and day-care personnel to make sure that the child is not abused.
According to the latest intelligence figures, 13 of those hostages died in captivity, as a result of poor medical care, maltreatment or outright torture.
Alleged maltreatment of porters includes starvation and use as human mine detectors in mine fields.
The challenge facing childwelfare administrators today is not identifying the "brutally battered, sexually abused, or starved and sickly" victims of maltreatment.
The left-wing member of Parliament, Dedi Zucker, quoted a top defense official as saying military "harassment and maltreatment" of Palestinians was the chief reason that unrest continues in the occupied lands.
Israeli officials insist that force and maltreatment are prohibited by government policy.