A wrongful act is one that is illegal, immoral, or unjust.
He is on hunger strike in protest at what he claims is his wrongful conviction formurder.
One of her employees sued her for wrongful dismissal.
Synonyms: improper, illegal, unfair, inappropriate More Synonyms of wrongful
wrongfullyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
People are being wrongfully imprisoned.
wrongful in British English
(ˈrɒŋfʊl)
adjective
immoral, unjust, or illegal
Derived forms
wrongfully (ˈwrongfully)
adverb
wrongfulness (ˈwrongfulness)
noun
wrongful in American English
(rɔŋfəl)
adjective
1.
full of wrong; unjust or injurious
2.
without legal right; unlawful
Derived forms
wrongfully (ˈwrongfully)
adverb
wrongfulness (ˈwrongfulness)
noun
Examples of 'wrongful' in a sentence
wrongful
He is understood to be planning legal action against the force for wrongful arrest and an illegal search of his home.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The youths sued for wrongful arrest and hurt feelings.
The Sun (2011)
He and his wife sued for wrongful arrest and won.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Individuals who carry out wrongful acts are also responsible in international law.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But any expert giving an opinion that could lead to wrongful conviction must surely let that opinion be tested.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It has only received a 250,000 interim payment for wrongful imprisonment.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
As a result, there could have been wrongful convictions.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
After his release from prison, he became a campaigner for victims of wrongful convictions.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The court disagreed that these acts amounted to a ratification of the defendant's wrongful acts by thechurch.
Christianity Today (2000)
THE reason we don't have capital punishment is that wrongful convictions can and do happen.
The Sun (2010)
Crucially, too, they would be unable to claim compensation for wrongful imprisonment.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
An original claim for lost earnings and wrongful imprisonment was rejected by the Ministry of Justice.
The Sun (2012)
He did so on the grounds there was a'real risk of wrongful conviction '.
The Sun (2015)
A single mother works hard to fund putting herself through law school so she can overturn her brother's wrongful conviction for murder.
The Sun (2012)
Ministers are bracing themselves for compensation claims for wrongful arrest from the individuals unlawfullystopped by 14 police forces throughout Britain.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He is expected to claim compensation that takes into account the loss of his career as an airline pilot, his wrongful imprisonment and damage to his health.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A full acquittal, after all, would engender huge compensation claims for wrongful imprisonment.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He announced plans for a cap of 500,000 on compensation for each case of wrongful conviction, and new conditions will be placed on claimants.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He remains on police bail but is planning legal action against the FSA and police for defamation, wrongful arrest and breach of statutory duty.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
wrongful
British English: wrongful ADJECTIVE
A wrongful act is one that is illegal, immoral, or unjust.
...a wrongful conviction.
American English: wrongful
Brazilian Portuguese: injusto
Chinese: 违法的
European Spanish: injusto
French: injustifié
German: unrechtmäßig
Italian: illegittimo
Japanese: 悪い
Korean: 불법의
European Portuguese: injusto
Latin American Spanish: injusto
Chinese translation of 'wrongful'
wrongful
(ˈrɔŋful)
adj
不正当(當)的 (bù zhèngdàng de)
(adjective)
Definition
unjust or illegal
his protest at what he claims is his wrongful conviction for murder
Synonyms
improper
illegal
It is illegal to interfere with emergency radio frequencies.
unfair
nations involved in unfair trade practices
inappropriate
unlawful
employees who believe their dismissal was unlawful
illicit
information about the use of illicit drugs
immoral
It is immoral to persist with a system that impoverishes so many people.
unjust
campaigning against racist and unjust immigration laws
illegitimate
a ruthless and illegitimate regime
unethical
I thought it was unethical for doctors to operate upon family members.
groundless
criminal
The entire party cannot be blamed for the criminal actions of a few members.
Opposites
just,
legal
,
fair
,
moral
,
proper
, legitimate,
ethical
,
honourable
,
honest
,
rightful
,
lawful
Additional synonyms
in the sense of criminal
Definition
of or relating to crime or its punishment
The entire party cannot be blamed for the criminal actions of a few members.
Synonyms
unlawful,
illicit,
lawless,
wrong,
illegal,
corrupt,
crooked (informal),
vicious,
immoral,
wicked,
culpable,
under-the-table,
villainous,
nefarious,
iniquitous,
indictable,
felonious,
bent (slang),
unrighteous,
peccant (rare)
in the sense of illegal
Definition
against the law
It is illegal to interfere with emergency radio frequencies.
Synonyms
unlawful,
banned,
forbidden,
prohibited,
criminal,
outlawed,
unofficial,
illicit,
unconstitutional,
illegitimate,
lawless,
wrongful,
off limits,
unlicensed,
under-the-table,
unauthorized,
against the law,
proscribed,
under-the-counter,
actionable,
felonious,
black-market,
bootleg
in the sense of illegitimate
Definition
illegal
a ruthless and illegitimate regime
Synonyms
unlawful,
illegal,
illicit,
improper,
unconstitutional,
under-the-table,
unauthorized,
unsanctioned
Synonyms of 'wrongful'
wrongful
Explore 'wrongful' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of illicit
Definition
information about the use of illicit drugs
Synonyms
illegal,
criminal,
prohibited,
unlawful,
black-market,
illegitimate,
off limits,
unlicensed,
unauthorized,
bootleg,
contraband,
felonious
in the sense of immoral
Definition
sexually depraved or promiscuous
It is immoral to persist with a system that impoverishes so many people.
Synonyms
wicked,
bad,
wrong,
abandoned,
evil,
corrupt,
vicious,
obscene,
indecent,
vile,
degenerate,
dishonest,
sinful,
unethical,
lewd,
depraved,
impure,
debauched,
unprincipled,
nefarious,
dissolute,
iniquitous,
reprobate
in the sense of unethical
Definition
morally wrong
I thought it was unethical for doctors to operate upon family members.
Synonyms
immoral,
wrong,
improper,
illegal,
dirty,
unfair,
shady (informal),
dishonest,
unscrupulous,
under-the-table,
unprofessional,
disreputable,
underhand,
unprincipled,
dishonourable,
not cricket (informal)
in the sense of unfair
Definition
dishonest or unethical
nations involved in unfair trade practices
Synonyms
unscrupulous,
crooked (informal),
dishonest,
unethical,
wrongful,
unprincipled,
dishonourable,
unsporting
in the sense of unjust
Definition
not fair or just
campaigning against racist and unjust immigration laws
Synonyms
unfair,
prejudiced,
biased,
wrong,
one-sided,
partial,
partisan,
unjustified,
wrongful,
undeserved,
inequitable,
unmerited
in the sense of unlawful
Definition
not permitted by law
employees who believe their dismissal was unlawful