wrongful

[ rawng-fuhl, rong- ]

adjective

1. unjust or unfair:

   a wrongful act; a wrongful charge.

2. having no legal right; unlawful:

   The court ruled it was a wrongful diversion of trust income.

wrongful

/ ˈrɒŋfʊl /

adjective

1. immoral, unjust, or illegal

Derived Forms

• ˈwrongfully, adverb
• ˈwrongfulness, noun

Other Words From

• wrongful·ly adverb
• wrongful·ness noun
• un·wrongful adjective
• un·wrongful·ly adverb
• un·wrongful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wrongful¹

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; wrong, -ful

Example Sentences

"Even those who are here legally can probably face wrongful deportation and that brings fear to families."

From Salon

The partners then deepened their relationship with a national contract, according to a wrongful termination lawsuit by a former BaronHR employee.

From New York Times

The initial investigation into her death lead to one of Britain's longest ever criminal trials, followed by the wrongful conviction of three men.

From BBC

Supporters of corroboration argue it is an important safeguard against wrongful convictions.

From BBC

She is suing Hallmark's executives for wrongful termination, age and disability discrimination and defamation, People Magazine reported.

From Salon

Related Words

• illegitimate
• illicit
• improper
• reprehensible
• unethical
• unfair
• unjust
• unlawful