Wrong
/rɒŋ/
Definitions
4 meaningsNot correct; not in accordance with fact or truth; erroneous.
/rɒŋ/
Incorrect or inaccurate
The phone number I dialed was wrong.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're taking a test and write the wrong answer! It means it's not right, not true, or not what the teacher was expecting.
👶 For kids: When something is wrong, it's not correct. Like when you say 2+2=5, that's wrong!
More Examples
You have given the wrong information.
The wrong answer on the test cost him points.
How It's Used
"The answer to the question was wrong."
"The calculation resulted in a wrong answer."
Morally bad or unacceptable; not in accordance with what is right or just.
/rɒŋ/
Morally bad or unacceptable
He knew it was wrong to lie.
💡 Simply: If something is wrong, it's like a bad choice. It's something you shouldn't do because it hurts someone or breaks the rules.
👶 For kids: If you do something wrong, it means it's not nice or fair. Like taking a toy from your friend without asking, that's wrong.
More Examples
It is wrong to treat animals cruelly.
They felt it was wrong to discriminate against anyone.
How It's Used
"It is wrong to steal from others."
"What she did was morally wrong."
In an incorrect manner; erroneously.
/rɒŋ/
In an incorrect or inaccurate manner
She dialed the number wrong.
💡 Simply: Doing something 'wrong' is like messing up. Like when you get the answer incorrect.
👶 For kids: Doing something wrong in a way that is not correct like answering a question wrong.
More Examples
He added up the figures wrong.
I thought I'd installed it wrong, but it worked perfectly.
How It's Used
"He answered the question wrong."
An act, statement, or situation that is morally or legally incorrect or unfair.
/rɒŋ/
An unfair or unjust act
They fought against the wrongs done to them.
💡 Simply: A 'wrong' is when someone is treated unfairly or hurts another person. It could be something they did or a bad situation.
👶 For kids: When you do something mean or unfair to someone, that's a wrong.
More Examples
She felt a deep sense of wrong because of the situation.
The victims wanted to seek justice for the wrongs they had suffered.
How It's Used
"She suffered a great wrong."
"He was determined to right the wrongs of the past."
Synonyms
Erroneous
False
Inaccurate
Incorrect
Bad
Evil
Immoral
Unethical
Unjust
Erroneously
Falsely
Incorrectly
Grievance
Injustice
Offense
Antonyms
Accurate
Correct
Right
True
Ethical
Good
Just
Moral
Accurately
Correctly
Rightly
Truly
Fairness
Justice
Idioms & expressions
be in the wrong
To be incorrect or mistaken.
"I thought I was right, but it turns out I was in the wrong."
get something wrong
To make a mistake about something.
"I got the answer wrong on the test."
in the wrong hands
Held or controlled by someone who cannot be trusted or who will misuse something.
"The information is dangerous in the wrong hands."
From Old English *wrang* (adjective), related to *wrang* (noun), meaning 'twisted, crooked'. It's connected to the verb 'wring' and implies something that is twisted from the correct path or truth.
The word 'wrong' has been used since Old English times, primarily to denote something that is twisted or crooked, and later evolved to mean incorrect or morally unacceptable. It reflects a shift from a physical sense to abstract concepts of truth and morality.
Memory tip
Think of a 'wrong' turn, leading you away from the right destination.