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.
Molo told reporters that Musk’s appeal would be based partly on a legal concept known as the continuing violation doctrine, which can extend the statute of limitations in certain situations when there’s a long pattern of wrongful conduct. David Ingram, NBC news, 18 May 2026 The families of three of the victims sued the Cuban government and the Cuban Air Force in a wrongful-death lawsuit in October 1996, and won $187 million in damages in a landmark case. Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026 Alameda County settled a wrongful termination lawsuit on Tuesday for $800,000 with Patti Lee, a former District Attorney’s Office public information officer who alleged discrimination and retaliation for refusing to conceal information from the press by former District Attorney Pamela Price. Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 14 May 2026 Other facial recognition wrongful arrest cases Angela Lipps is not the first person to say facial recognition helped put them in handcuffs. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 May 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 20 May. 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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