adj Uncommon

wrongful

RONG-fuhl

Wrongful (adj) means Unjust or unlawful. Example: “The family sued the hospital for wrongful death.”

adj

Unjust or unlawful.

"The family sued the hospital for wrongful death."

How to use wrongful

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNot fair or not legal — often used in legal phrases.

When to use it

Mostly used in legal or formal contexts, rarely in casual speech.

Common pairings

wrongful death wrongful termination wrongful arrest

more wrongful comparative, most wrongful superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

The family sued the hospital for _____ death.

From Middle English wrongful, equivalent to wrong + -ful.

Origin: Middle English

What does “wrongful” mean?

The word “wrongful” means unjust or unlawful. In plain terms, not fair or not legal — often used in legal phrases.

How do you pronounce “wrongful”?

“Wrongful” is pronounced RONG-fuhl (/ˈɹɒŋfəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “wrongful” in a sentence?

Here is “wrongful” used in a sentence: “The family sued the hospital for wrongful death.”

What part of speech is “wrongful”?

“Wrongful” is an adjective.

Is “wrongful” a common word?

“Wrongful” is an uncommon word in modern English.