wrongful death

noun

: a death caused by the negligent, willful, or wrongful act, neglect, omission, or default of another

Examples of wrongful death in a Sentence

She filed a wrongful death suit against the hospital, alleging that its negligence led to her daughter's death.

Recent Examples on the Web

The wrongful death lawsuit against the company is still pending. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026

His family filed a wrongful death and elder abuse lawsuit against the hospital earlier this month. — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026

Sacramento’s top stories this week span a wrongful death lawsuit over a deadly road, a federal investigation into ICE actions at a local law firm, city oversight of youth violence programs and a celebrity DJ appearance. — Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026

The mother of a man fatally shot while picking up a DoorDash order at a southeast Kansas City restaurant has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the restaurant and the man allegedly involved in the shooting. — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for wrongful death

• shibboleth
• beth
• breath
• heth
• lethe
• meth
• neath
• seth
• sheth
• sneath

Legal Definition

wrongful death

noun

: a death caused by the negligent, willful, or wrongful act, neglect, omission, or default of another

sought damages for the wrongful death of their murdered daughter