Incorrect
/ˌɪnkəˈrɛkt/
Definitions
Not correct; wrong; inaccurate.
/ˌɪnkəˈrɛkt/
Not in accordance with the truth or with a fact; wrong.
The address on the package was incorrect, so it was returned to sender.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're playing a game, and you say the wrong answer. That answer is 'incorrect'. It's not the right one!
👶 For kids: When something isn't right, like if you get the wrong answer on a test, it's incorrect.
More Examples
Her assumptions about the situation proved to be incorrect.
The data entry contained several incorrect values.
How It's Used
"The answer to the question was incorrect."
"The calculation yielded an incorrect result."
"The judge ruled based on an incorrect interpretation of the law."
From Latin *in-* (not) + *correctus* (corrected), from *corrigere* (to make straight, correct). The prefix 'in-' indicates negation.
The word 'incorrect' has been used since the 17th century. It was initially used in legal and scientific contexts to denote something that was not in accordance with the law or with accurate observations.
Memory tip
Think 'in' (not) and 'correct' (right). If something is incorrect, it's not right.