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wrongdoing

American  
[rawng-doo-ing, -doo-, rong-] / ˈrɔŋˌdu ɪŋ, -ˈdu-, ˈrɒŋ- /

noun

  1. behavior or action that is wrong, evil, or blameworthy.

  2. an act that is wrong, evil, or blameworthy; misdeed; sin.

wrongdoing British  
/ ˈrɒŋˌduːɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act or an instance of doing something immoral or illegal

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of wrongdoing

First recorded in 1470–80; wrong + doing

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In an interview with CNBC, Sprecher said Coplan “was falsely accused of wrongdoing and was raided by the FBI,” an experience that he said he suffered a few years earlier.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

The board has not determined if UC engaged in wrongdoing.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

A federal judge quashed the subpoenas in March, finding no credible evidence of wrongdoing and writing that the effort appeared designed to harass Powell into resigning.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

When Brown and his team examined the report, they found that Georgia’s election board had already looked into its allegations, dismissing many altogether, and concluding that others came down to human error, not criminal wrongdoing.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

As Scythe Curie had promised, Citra had been cleared of any wrongdoing.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.