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

Avira’s Browser Safety component installs as an extension for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera to keep the browser away from dangerous and fraudulent websites. — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026

Levine underscored that, under the PCSA, college athletes would gain a private right of action to sue abusive or fraudulent agents, who could also face repercussions from the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Sep. 2026

The report’s authors said a large portion of fraudulent returns comes from organized networks. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026

Smalls faces charges including breach of trust with fraudulent intent, perjury and exploitation of a vulnerable adult, online court records showed. — Michelle Richardson, CBS News, 29 Sep. 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