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

Lopes estimated the cost of the fraud at $14 million in fraudulent returns. —Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2026

Others are stealing real PTINs from preparers and filing fraudulent returns using those credentials. —Ken Colburn, AZCentral.com, 1 Mar. 2026

Iranians took to the streets to protest what was widely seen as a fraudulent election. —Jackie Northam, NPR, 28 Feb. 2026

Deepfakes can be created for harmless entertainment or creative projects, but they can also be used to generate propaganda, spread misinformation and for fraudulent activities, such as impersonating someone for financial gain or committing identity theft. —Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 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