fraudulent

adjective

fraud·​u·​lent ˈfrȯ-jə-lənt 

: characterized by, based on, or done by fraud : deceitful

fraudulent use of a credit card

fraudulent claims for unemployment compensation

—Wall Street Journal

fraudulently adverb

fraudulentness noun

Synonyms of fraudulent

• dishonest
• false
• deceptive

Examples of fraudulent in a Sentence

Corrupt leaders were chosen in a fraudulent election.

fraudulent use of a credit card

the victim of a fraudulent scheme

Recent Examples on the Web

How common any sort of voluntary AI disclosure would actually be is unknown, as artists have little incentive to self-report given the stigma around AI music, and those using AI for fraudulent purposes certainly aren’t looking to be transparent. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 10 July 2026

If an agent books the wrong trip, buys counterfeit goods, renews the wrong subscription, or sends money to a fraudulent service provider, the defining question will not be whether the system worked as designed. — Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Pitchfork cites Reed and At Pluto on several counts of alleged wrongdoing, including for fraudulent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment. — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026

As a result of both investigations and DeVuono’s own admissions, her fraudulent activity occurred from approximately June 15, 2021, to January 27, 2022, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said. — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

fraudulent

adjective

fraud·​u·​lent ˈfrȯ-jə-lənt 

: based on or done by fraud

fraudulently adverb

fraudulentness noun

Legal Definition

fraudulent

adjective

fraud·​u·​lent

: characterized by, based on, or done by fraud compare deceptive, false, misleading

fraudulently adverb