Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

wilful

adjective disapproving (US usually willful)
 
 
/ˈwɪl.fəl/

Definition

(of something bad) done intentionally or (of a person) determined to do exactly as you want, even if you know it is wrong: The present crisis is the result of years of wilful neglect by the council. They eat huge quantities of sweet and fried foods, in wilful disregard of their health. She developed into a wilful, difficult child.Strong-willed wilfully (US usually willfully)
 
 
/-i/ adverb
Some basic safety rules were wilfully ignored.Strong-willed
wilfulness (US usually willfulness)
 
 
/-nəs/ noun [U]
(Definition of wilful adjective from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
Focus on the pronunciation of wilful