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

Then-Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost asked law enforcement agencies in May 2021 to open a criminal investigation into how Henderson’s department handled fraudulent claims during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Observer reported previously. —Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 16 Mar. 2026

The global cybersecurity company CrowdStrike identified a 220% rise in 2025 in instances of North Koreans gaining fraudulent employment at Western companies to work remotely as developers. —Lisa Cavazuti, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026

Investigators said the pair submitted allegedly fraudulent unemployment insurance applications in 2020 and 2021. —Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026

At the same time, the board charged Chaudhry with professional incompetence and knowingly making misleading, deceptive, untrue, or fraudulent representations in the practice of medicine. —Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 13 Mar. 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