Fraudulent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Fraudulent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is deceitful or intended to deceive, often in a legal or financial context. Example: "The company was accused of engaging in fraudulent activities to mislead investors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Therefore we will continue to pursue our legal options for the return of the prize amounts that were paid to Mr Armstrong under fraudulent circumstances".

The Guardian - Sport

They include the corrupt former Western Australia premier Brian Burke, the fraudulent businessman Alan Bond and the former federal court justice Marcus Einfeld – all of whom served jail time.

The Guardian

On Friday, Di Girolamo denied any role in assisting Koelma to make the fraudulent complaint.

The Guardian

Who am I? I can be sued for calling a public individual fraudulent but not a whole scientific community or organisation – because climate scientists and the IPCC are fraudulent.

The Guardian

But after many months and much public money, the Tomlinson committee, which proposed a raft of proposals to change the system, had nothing to say about the fraudulent marking: that had not even been part of its remit, so the injustice suffered by successful candidates was never put right.

The Guardian - Opinion

After reviewing an allegation regarding voting on the people's choice award, our finding is the award should stand Louisa Graham Several photographers have told Weekly Beast they are furious about the way the competition has been handled and at least one Walkley advisory board member believes the voting on that entry appears to be fraudulent.

The Guardian

Asked about the modelling during question time, the prime minister said this omission meant the modelling was "a fraudulent misrepresentation" of the government's budget because returning people to work was "the whole point of the policy measures".

The Guardian

Session 8: Fraudulent memoir and 'fact' - Monday 2nd November The dangerous attraction of making it all up.

The Guardian

We asked Louisa Graham, the general manager of the Walkley Foundation for Journalism, if she thought the voting looked fraudulent.

The Guardian

"It's a bit fraudulent – everyone pretends they never knew him.

The Guardian

Delay Repay Sniper technical adviser Lee Fortnam said it did not condone fraudulent claims, but added that it could be that passengers who had been delayed five minutes on Monday, five minutes on Tuesday, 10 minutes on Wednesday and 10 minutes on Thursday could be tempted to put in for a 30-minute claim for a service they did not use.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing financial misconduct or legal violations, use "fraudulent" to emphasize the deceptive nature of the actions. For example, "The company engaged in "fraudulent" accounting practices."

Common error

Avoid using "fraudulent" to describe simple mistakes or unintentional errors. It should be reserved for situations involving deliberate deception or intent to deceive. For example, using "fraudulent" to describe an accidental typo would be incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fraudulent" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something characterized by fraud, deceit, or dishonesty. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with multiple examples where "fraudulent" modifies nouns like "complaint", "marking", and "misrepresentation".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fraudulent" is an adjective used to describe something dishonest or deceitful, with a strong implication of intentional misrepresentation. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is grammatically correct and widely used, especially in news, business, and formal contexts. While "fraudulent" is generally appropriate for neutral to formal settings, it's essential to reserve it for situations involving deliberate deception rather than unintentional errors. Alternatives like "deceptive" or "dishonest" can be used for similar meanings. Understanding the nuances of "fraudulent" ensures accurate and impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Deceitful

Emphasizes the act of deceiving or misleading someone.

Dishonest

Focuses on the lack of honesty and integrity.

Fake

Highlights the inauthenticity and imitation of something.

Bogus

Implies something is counterfeit or not genuine.

Spurious

Indicates that something is false and misleading in its claims or origins.

Fallacious

Refers to something based on mistaken belief or incorrect reasoning.

Counterfeit

Specifically refers to imitation of currency or documents with intent to deceive.

Sham

Describes something that is a deception or pretense.

Duplicitous

Highlights the quality of being double-dealing or deceptive.

Illicit

Indicates something is forbidden by law, rules, or custom.

FAQs

How is "fraudulent" used in legal contexts?

"Fraudulent" is often used in legal contexts to describe actions involving deception and intent to gain something unfairly. For example, "fraudulent misrepresentation" is a legal term for making false statements to induce someone into a contract.

What are some synonyms for "fraudulent" that I can use in my writing?

Depending on the specific nuance you want to convey, you can use synonyms like "deceptive", "dishonest", "fake", or "spurious".

When is it appropriate to use "fraudulent" instead of "incorrect"?

Use "fraudulent" when the inaccuracy is intentional and aimed at deceiving someone. "Incorrect" simply means wrong, whereas "fraudulent" implies a deliberate attempt to mislead.

What's the difference between "fraudulent" and "illegal"?

"Illegal" refers to something that is against the law. "Fraudulent" specifically involves deception and misrepresentation, often with the intent of financial gain or causing harm. An action can be both "fraudulent and illegal", but not all illegal activities are fraudulent.