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

But the Herald has learned from invoices obtained through a public records request that her fraudulent billing activity easily surpassed that figure. —Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 10 Dec. 2025

The plan would also expand access to health savings accounts, while imposing a small monthly premium on the lowest-income beneficiaries to fight fraudulent enrollments. —Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025

The administration said that working requirements were added as a way to reduce fraudulent claims, improve personal responsibility and boost employment. —Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025

Someone should have rejected the fraudulent loan application, and through that rejection, spared my mother and me. —Annie Nova, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025

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