Meaning & use
fraudently
Last updated
Meaning
adverbrareformallegal
In a way that involves cheating or deception for personal gain.
Grammar: An adverb modifying a verb: obtained fraudently, acted fraudently. It usually comes after the verb or before an adjective.
Patterns
- obtain something fraudently
- act fraudently
- fraudently obtained
The court found that the documents had been fraudently altered.
He fraudently claimed benefits to which he was not entitled.
The company fraudently misled investors about its profits.
Common combinations
- fraudently obtained
- The evidence was fraudently obtained and could not be used.
- act fraudently
- Anyone who acts fraudently may face criminal charges.
- fraudently claim
- She fraudently claimed ownership of the land.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fraudulently
- The standard modern adverb with the same meaning; use this one in almost all writing.
- deceptively
- Focuses on misleading people rather than on financial or legal cheating.
- dishonestly
- A broader word for any lack of honesty, not necessarily a crime.
Opposites
Word family
- fraud noun
- The crime of deceiving people for money or gain.
- fraudulent adjective
- Done by cheating or deception.
- fraudulence noun
- The quality of being fraudulent.
Commonly confused: fraudently or fraudulently? fraudently or prudently?
fraudently vs fraudulently
This is the usual modern spelling and form; 'fraudently' is an older, rare variant.
fraudently vs prudently
Prudently means carefully and sensibly, almost the opposite of acting with fraud.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'fraudently' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Fraudently' means by cheating or deception, so 'taken fraudently' fits. A describes careless signing, not cheating; C and D describe ordinary actions with no element of fraud.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fraudently”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.