wrongdoen

Wrongdoen is a Dutch verb that means to commit wrongdoing or to act in a morally or legally wrong way. It is used to describe actions that violate norms of right conduct, law, or social expectations. The term can refer to concrete acts such as deceit, harm to others, or violations of agreements, as well as broader patterns of behavior that are considered improper. In everyday language, wrongdoen appears in discussions of ethics, responsibility, and social safety, often in contexts that involve judging or condemning conduct.

In standard Dutch, there are more common expressions for similar ideas. Verkeerd handelen (to act wrongly) and onrecht doen (to do injustice) are frequently used in formal and semi-formal writing. The closest literal English translations are to do wrong or to commit wrongdoing. Because Dutch relies on compound verbs, wrongdoen functions much like a single unit when describing improper actions, though it is less common in strictly legal terminology. For legal or formal contexts, phrases such as misdrijf plegen (to commit a crime) or schending van rechten (infringing rights) may be preferred, depending on the nuance and jurisdiction.

See also: ethics, morality, criminal law, justice, accountability. Note that the exact usage and acceptability of wrongdoen can vary by region and register within Dutch-language communities.