fraudulent
adj.-
1 illegal or deceptive (adj.) C1 Advanced Formal Lawdone to trick someone or steal money by lying.
involving or characterized by intentional deception or fraud, especially for financial gain.
ExampleThe bank blocked his card after noticing several fraudulent transactions from another country.
ExampleThe 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.
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2 false or phony (adj.) C1 Advanced Formal Literarynot 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.
ExampleHe gave the police a fraudulent name to avoid being arrested.
ExampleThe 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.
From Middle English fraudulent, from Old French fraudulent, from Latin fraudulentus, from fraus (“fraud”).
- Adjectivefraudulent
- Adverbfraudulently