wrongful

adjective

wrong·​ful ˈrȯŋ-fəl 

1

: wrong, unjust

2

a

: having no legal sanction : unlawful

b

: having no legal claim

a wrongful heir

wrongfully

ˈrȯŋ-fə-lē 

adverb

wrongfulness noun

Synonyms of wrongful

• unlawful
• illegal
• criminal
• illicit
• felonious

Examples of wrongful in a Sentence

He is suing his former employer for wrongful termination.

charged with wrongful possession of narcotics

Recent Examples on the Web

The spokesman added that wrongful detention is determined by a variety of factors, including having US citizenship or a connection to the US. — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Advocates for clemency have likewise urged Newsom to act, citing inequities and the risk of wrongful convictions. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Dateline Canada will premiere with a two-hour special revisiting the wrongful conviction of Robert Baltovich, who was jailed for the murder of then-girlfriend Elizabeth Bain after her disappearance in 1990. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026

For the victim's family, potential civil litigation could include a wrongful-death claim brought through the victim's estate, while injured guests could have separate personal injury claims, depending on the circumstances, Lopez-Trigo said. — Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wrongful

• wrongful birth
• wrongful death

Kids Definition

wrongful

adjective

wrong·​ful ˈrȯŋ-fəl 

1

: wrong entry 2 sense 1

a wrongful act

2

: unlawful

wrongful possession of another's property

wrongfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

wrongfulness noun

Legal Definition

wrongful

adjective

wrong·​ful ˈrȯŋ-fəl 

1

: constituting a wrong

especially : injurious to the rights of another

a wrongful act or omission

2

: unlawful

remained in wrongful occupation of the property

a wrongful occupant

wrongfully adverb

wrongfulness noun