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

Derived Forms

• ˈfraudulence, noun
• ˈfraudulently, adverb

Other Words From

• fraud·u·lence fraud·u·len·cy noun
• fraud·u·lent·ly adverb
• non·fraud·u·lence noun
• non·fraud·u·len·cy noun
• non·fraud·u·lent adjective
• non·fraud·u·lent·ly adverb
• un·fraud·u·lent adjective
• un·fraud·u·lent·ly 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

He telegraphed over and over that he planned to cast mail-in ballots as fraudulent, and, over and over, The Post and others pointed out that there was no evidence to support the claim.

From Washington Post

Some followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory had seized on the mathematical theory as proof that the November election was fraudulent, and changed the Wikipedia page accordingly.

From Washington Post

So if the dominant position in the Republican Party is that the only free and fair elections are those where Republicans win, and anything else is “stolen” and fraudulent, then we’re on the precipice of not having a democracy.

From FiveThirtyEight

She doesn’t understand why some Republican lawmakers continue to repeat baseless claims that the election was fraudulent, further angering the masses.

From Washington Post

At least millions of dollars of previous aid went to fraudulent applicants, according to public and private estimates.

From Washington Post

You better take it before your filthy fraudulent self is bared to the nation.

From The Daily Beast

The investigation stems from Dec. 2013 charges that 25 Russian diplomats allegedly tried to obtain fraudulent Medicaid benefits.

From The Daily Beast

And when a fraudulent work hits the marketplace, it tends to circulate.

From The Daily Beast

Once submitted, a detailed review is initiated and vetted by our teams, and listings deemed fraudulent will be removed promptly.

From The Daily Beast

And in April, a Florida pastor named Kevin Sutherland was convicted of trying to sell fraudulent Damien Hirst paintings.

From The Daily Beast

The transfers of property covered by the act are those which the common law regards as fraudulent.

From Project Gutenberg

And thirdly he knew that his adversary would cheat if he could and that his adversary suspected him of fraudulent designs.

From Project Gutenberg

A different rule applies to a minor who makes a fraudulent contract.

From Project Gutenberg

Bribery and fraudulent voting gained ground, and an attempt was again made to meet them by increasing the severity of the law.

From Project Gutenberg

The nub of the whole matter is: The claims made for Sanatogen are unwarranted, misleading and fraudulent.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• counterfeit
• crooked
• deceitful
• dishonest
• fake
• forged
• phony
• sham