Meaning & use
fraudulently
Last updated
Meaning
adverbnot comparable
In a dishonest way meant to trick people, especially to gain money or advantage unlawfully.
Grammar: Goes before or after a verb: fraudulently obtained, or he acted fraudulently.
Patterns
- fraudulently obtain something
- fraudulently claim something
The man fraudulently claimed benefits for three years.
The documents were fraudulently altered to hide the loss.
She fraudulently signed her employer's name on the check.
Common combinations
- fraudulently obtained
- The loan was fraudulently obtained.
- fraudulently claim
- He fraudulently claimed expenses.
- fraudulently represent
- The agent fraudulently represented the property.
- act fraudulently
- The manager acted fraudulently to inflate sales.
- fraudulently altered
- The invoice was fraudulently altered.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dishonestly
- Dishonestly is a general word for any lack of honesty, while fraudulently implies a deliberate scheme, often for money.
- deceitfully
- Deceitfully stresses misleading someone, but fraudulently suggests a crime.
- illegally
- Illegally only means against the law and need not involve deception, unlike fraudulently.
- falsely
- Falsely means untruthfully, while fraudulently adds the idea of gaining something by deception.
Opposites
Word family
- fraud noun
- deliberate deception to gain something
- fraudulent adjective
- involving deception for gain
- fraudster noun
- a person who commits fraud
- defraud verb
- to cheat someone out of money
Commonly confused: fraudulently or fraudulent?
fraudulently vs fraudulent
Fraudulent is the adjective (a fraudulent claim); fraudulently is the adverb (he claimed it fraudulently).
Practice
Which sentence uses 'fraudulently' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Fraudulently describes deceit for gain, which fits using a false identity. The other sentences have no dishonesty.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fraudulently”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.