wrongful

adjective

wrong·​ful ˈrȯŋ-fəl How to pronounce wrongful (audio)
Synonyms of wrongfulnext
1
2
a
: having no legal sanction : unlawful
b
: having no legal claim
a wrongful heir
wrongfully adverb
wrongfulness noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Woods, a former Thornton Township youth program director, filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination after he was fired in February 2025 for participating in a brawl that broke out during a previous township board meeting. Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026 Starring Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson, the wrongful conviction drama was originally set to run though July 12 at the James Earl Jones Theatre, but dwindling box office and a Tony Awards shut out prompted producers to quietly cancel the final two weeks of performances. Greg Evans, Deadline, 20 June 2026 Just three months into his tenure, North Miami Beach City Manager Darvin Williams is facing multiple legal challenges from current and former employees, including lawsuits and federal complaints alleging workplace misconduct, retaliation and wrongful employment actions. Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 17 June 2026 The incident, which was part of a double-whammy of violent encounters for the hijacker that day, was preventable and should have been better controlled, according to a wrongful-death suit filed by Jazzmyn Byrd, the daughter of a man who was shot during the hijacking. Alex Nettles, AJC.com, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wrongful

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wrongful was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Wrongful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wrongful. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

wrongful

adjective
wrong·​ful ˈrȯŋ-fəl How to pronounce wrongful (audio)
1
: wrong entry 2 sense 1
a wrongful act
2
: unlawful
wrongful possession of another's property
wrongfully adverb
wrongfulness noun

Legal Definition

wrongful

adjective
wrong·​ful ˈrȯŋ-fəl How to pronounce wrongful (audio)
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

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