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.
One names the United States and seeks damages under the Federal Tort Claims Act, alleging wrongful death, negligence and other misconduct.
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
Hawley's family settled a wrongful death suit with the theme park in August.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 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
Faulty eyewitness accounts have contributed to more than 700 known wrongful convictions in the U.S. since 1989, according to data from the National Registry of Exonerations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
By the late 1990s, the evolution of DNA evidence had helped expose dozens of wrongful convictions.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
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