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wrongful death

American  

noun

Law.
  1. the death of a person wrongfully caused, as comprising the grounds of a damage suit.


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.

The plane maker initially faced 155 civil cases alleging wrongful death and negligence, among other claims, but it has settled the vast majority of claims.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

The Coulson family sued Schwartz and his company for wrongful death.

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026

Benjamin Torres, son of Valerie Mack, has filed a wrongful death suit against Heuermann and his family, hoping to collect the funds the family is making from the documentary they're involved with.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Perpétuo’s mother, Noemia Monique Carvalho, has filed a wrongful death suit against Lee seeking $50 million compensatory and punitive damages.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

The Weavers had filed a wrongful death suit for $200 million but settled out of court when the government offered Vicki’s three daughters $1 million each.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover