fraudulent

[fraw-juh-luhnt]

adjective

1. characterized by, involving, or proceeding from fraud, as actions, enterprise, methods, or gains.

   a fraudulent scheme to evade taxes.

2. given to or using fraud, as a person; cheating; dishonest.

   Synonyms: unscrupulous, underhanded, crooked

3. false or deceiving; phony; misleading.

   They’ve concocted a series of fraudulent pretexts for the invasion that collapse instantly on examination.

   Synonyms: specious, sham, fallacious, illusory, deceptive, deceitful

fraudulent

/ ˈfrɔːdjʊlənt /

adjective

1. acting with or having the intent to deceive

2. relating to or proceeding from fraud or dishonest action

Other Word Forms

• fraudulence noun
• fraudulency noun
• fraudulently adverb
• nonfraudulence noun
• nonfraudulency noun
• nonfraudulent adjective
• nonfraudulently adverb
• unfraudulent adjective
• unfraudulently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fraudulent¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin fraudulentus; fraud, -ulent

Word History and Origins

Origin of fraudulent¹

C15: from Latin fraudulentus deceitful

Example Sentences

Wendy, 81, said she then received another call supposedly from a detective sergeant, claiming police were investigating fraudulent activity within their local bank.

Read more on BBC

Martin Lewis has previously warned people about his image being used in fraudulent advertisements online.

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All the while, fraudulent accounts have continued to flourish.

Read more on Salon

The bank also confirmed the fraudulent accounts on the Warrington street had all now been closed.

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Lawsuits would later allege that Epstein orchestrated at least three fraudulent marriages for immigration purposes, and that Indyke and Kahn performed legal and accounting work, including helping the women set up joint bank accounts.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• counterfeit 
• crooked 
• deceitful 
• dishonest 
• fake 
• forged www.thesaurus.com
• phony 
• sham