fraudulent
- 01 C1 Advanced
done to trick someone or steal money by lying.
involving or characterized by intentional deception or fraud, especially for financial gain.
Simple“The bank blocked his card after noticing several fraudulent transactions from another country.”
In context“The investigation revealed a series of fraudulent insurance claims that had cost the company millions of dollars over the last decade.”
UsageCommonly used in legal and financial contexts to describe claims, activities, or documents.
Teacher's tipLearners often confuse this with 'fake'. Use 'fraudulent' for actions or documents that break the law, and 'fake' for physical objects like toys or clothes.
- 02 C1 Advanced
not real or not true, often used to describe a person's behavior or a fake item.
lacking authenticity or being intentionally misleading; false in nature.
Simple“He gave the police a fraudulent name to avoid being arrested.”
In context“The critic dismissed the artist's work as fraudulent, claiming it was merely a poor imitation of much better painters.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is less about money and more about a lack of truth in character or appearance.
“Many Venezuelans are hopeful that the transition talks will lead to democratic elections, after Maduro’s claimed victories in the 2018 and 2024 elections were rejected as fraudulent by the opposition and many foreign countries.”
“Data from Scamwatch shows Australians have lost more than $45m to fraudulent investment schemes in 2026 so far, after over $160m in reported losses in 2025.”
From Middle English fraudulent, from Old French fraudulent, from Latin fraudulentus, from fraus (“fraud”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.