wrongful

adjective

wrong·​ful ˈrȯŋ-fəl How to pronounce wrongful (audio)
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.
Knox, a Seattle native who advocates against wrongful convictions, has known Pearl Jam for years. Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025 Bukele is seen by some as a Trump-like figure for his crackdown on gangs, which has led to a dramatic plunge in crime in El Salvador while also provoking questions about his tactics and concerns about wrongful imprisonments. Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 14 Apr. 2025 The high court's ruling reinforces that the government must act to correct the wrongful deportation. David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025 In cases where a plaintiff’s earning capacity has been harmed (such as in a wrongful termination case), the damages are going to be higher when the plaintiff had a high salary. Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 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 22 Apr. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on wrongful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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