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

• criminal
• felonious
• illegal
• illegitimate
• illicit
• lawless
• unlawful

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

But even that is too much accountability for a government that imposes legal obligations on its citizens but consistently relieves itself of responsibility for its wrongful acts. —David French, Mercury News, 6 May 2025

The latest claim was leveled by Adam Schleifer, formerly an assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, in a filing last week with the Merit Systems Protection Board, which handles wrongful termination appeals from federal workers. —Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2025

For certain Democrats, the wrongful deportation and Trump’s unwillingness to bring him back to Maryland after court rulings amount to a constitutional crisis. —Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 21 Apr. 2025

Minor data discrepancies can lead to major consequences: job loss, denial of benefits and wrongful targeting in law enforcement operations. —Nicole M. Bennett, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 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