wrongful
Americanadjective
-
unjust or unfair.
a wrongful act; a wrongful charge.
-
having no legal right; unlawful.
The court ruled it was a wrongful diversion of trust income.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of wrongful
Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; see origin at wrong, -ful
Explanation
If something's not fair, or especially if it's illegal, you can call it wrongful. If a company violates an employee's contract and fires her, that would be a wrongful termination. This adjective is mainly used in a legal context. Being arrested when there's no evidence is a wrongful arrest, and if you're found guilty of a crime you didn't commit, that would be a wrongful conviction. We've used this word since the 14th century to mean "not fair" or "unjust." It derives from an Old English word meaning "crooked or twisted."
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.
Asked for comment on Thursday, a senior White House official, speaking anonymously, told the BBC: "Resolving the wrongful detentions of US citizens is always a top priority for the President."
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
She’s also a true-crime fanatic who uses her social media platforms to raise awareness about wrongful convictions, missing people, and other victims.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
She and other experts advise proactively working with your doctor’s office to appeal wrongful prior-authorization denials.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
Todd Spitzer in 2019 to review claims of wrongful conviction.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
I spent the next couple of days looking up more facts about wrongful convictions, and found out that the Innocence Project had an office in Boston.
From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks
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.
