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

• 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

On the opposite end, the technology is also accelerating greenhouse gas emissions, while leading to wrongful incarceration, unemployment and worldwide misinformation. —Orson Aguilar, Mercury News, 10 July 2025

At a press conference, Bragg said Collins and Boles’s wrongful convictions were devastating and that prosecutors had no leads on who Reid’s true killer was. —Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 10 July 2025

While non-compete clauses are generally unenforceable in California, wrongful enforcement attempts may further support a claim of employer overreach. —Jc Serrano, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025

Our cases instead focus on discrete wrongful conduct allegedly committed by Mr. Combs that would be considered state law crimes if proven. —Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 3 July 2025

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