wrongful death

noun

: a death caused by the negligent, willful, or wrongful act, neglect, omission, or default of another

Examples of wrongful death in a Sentence

She filed a wrongful death suit against the hospital, alleging that its negligence led to her daughter's death.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The family of a woman who was killed in a mass shooting at a Kansas City nightclub in 2023 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the club and man charged in the mass shooting, alleging the club’s owners were negligent in not securing the business properly. Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026 The deputy who shot Jalin was cleared of criminal charges, though Jalin's family has since filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit and turned their attention to influence change at the Colorado State Capitol. Chierstin Roth, CBS News, 18 May 2026 The verdict, reached Wednesday after a trial in federal court in Chicago, resolves one of the last remaining wrongful death lawsuits filed in connection with the disaster that killed all 157 people aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. Rio Yamat, Fortune, 15 May 2026 The family of an 18-year-old man shot and killed by a Santa Ana police officer in January have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city and its police department, claiming excessive force and wrongful death, attorneys representing the family announced Thursday, May 14. Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for wrongful death

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wrongful death was in 1952

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wrongful death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wrongful%20death. Accessed 22 May. 2026.

Legal Definition

wrongful death

noun
: a death caused by the negligent, willful, or wrongful act, neglect, omission, or default of another
sought damages for the wrongful death of their murdered daughter
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