wrong font
A1 (Very High Frequency)Neutral; used across all registers from informal speech to formal writing.
Definition
Meaning
Not correct, accurate, or true; in error; not in accordance with fact, law, or morality.
Used to describe something unsuitable, inappropriate, immoral, or malfunctioning. Can refer to actions, decisions, answers, or objects that are flawed, unjust, or not as intended.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a deviation from a standard, rule, expectation, or moral principle. Can be subjective in moral contexts (e.g., 'It's wrong to lie'). In technical contexts, it's more objective (e.g., 'The calculation is wrong').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'wrong' identically in core meanings. 'In the wrong' is slightly more common in UK English.
Connotations
Identical. Strong moral/ethical weight.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be wrong (about sth)do wronggo wrong (with sth)get sth wrongfind sb/sth wrongtell sb they are wrongVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on the wrong side of the law”
- “get off on the wrong foot”
- “bark up the wrong tree”
- “two wrongs don't make a right”
- “in the wrong”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe incorrect data, flawed strategies, or unethical practices (e.g., 'The forecast was wrong.' 'It would be wrong to mislead investors.').
Academic
Used to denote factual inaccuracy, logical fallacy, or methodological error (e.g., 'The hypothesis was proven wrong.').
Everyday
Ubiquitous for mistakes, incorrect directions, inappropriate behaviour, or malfunction (e.g., 'You have the wrong house.' 'It feels wrong to not help.').
Technical
Indicates a failure state, error code, or incorrect configuration (e.g., 'The system detected a wrong password.').
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- She knows the difference between right and wrong.
- They have committed a great wrong.
American English
- He admitted his wrong and apologized.
- The film is about redressing past wrongs.
verb
British English
- He felt deeply wronged by the accusation.
- The novel wrongs the historical figure it portrays.
American English
- The court ruling wronged the small business owner.
- She claimed the biography wronged her family.
adverb
British English
- My name was spelt wrong on the ticket.
- He guessed wrong three times in a row.
American English
- My name was spelled wrong on the ticket.
- You did it wrong—let me show you.
adjective
British English
- I'm afraid you've got the wrong postcode.
- It's wrong to take those without asking.
- The file was saved in the wrong format.
American English
- You have the wrong zip code.
- That's just the wrong way to treat people.
- My watch is showing the wrong time.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is the wrong key. It doesn't fit.
- My answer was wrong. The correct one is 'ten'.
- It is wrong to shout in the library.
- I think you're wrong about the meeting time; it starts at 3 PM.
- Something went wrong with the printer, so I can't get my document.
- She was wrong to leave without saying goodbye.
- The technician diagnosed the fault correctly, proving the initial assessment wrong.
- He felt he had been morally wronged by the company's policies.
- The experiment went wrong when the temperature wasn't properly controlled.
- The prosecutor argued that the defendant had knowingly wronged the victims for financial gain.
- Her deeply held conviction that she was in the right made admitting she was wrong almost impossible.
- The legislation, while well-intentioned, is fundamentally wrong in its approach to data privacy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a WRENCH (sounds like 'rench') being used on the WRONG bolt, causing damage. WRONG actions often 'wrench' things out of place.
Conceptual Metaphor
WRONG IS STRAYING FROM A PATH (e.g., 'go wrong', 'lead someone astray'), WRONG IS A BURDEN (e.g., 'admit you're wrong', 'in the wrong').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'bad' ('плохой'). 'Wrong' is more about correctness/incorrectness. 'A wrong decision' is incorrect/unwise; 'a bad decision' is simply of poor quality. 'He's a bad man' vs. 'He's wrong (in his opinion)'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'wrongly' as an adjective ('a wrongly answer'). 'Wrongly' is an adverb. The adjective is 'wrong'.
- Overusing 'false' as a synonym. 'False' is for statements/allegations, not typically for actions or moral judgments.
- Incorrect word order: 'It's wrong what you did' is natural; 'What you did is wrong' is more formal/emphatic.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'wrong' used as a NOUN?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Wrong' is broader, covering incorrect facts, inappropriate actions, and moral error. 'False' primarily applies to statements, information, or appearances that are not true or genuine (e.g., a false statement, false teeth). A 'wrong answer' is incorrect; a 'false answer' is deliberately untruthful.
Yes, but it's less common and formal. It means 'to treat unjustly' or 'to do wrong to' (e.g., 'He felt wronged by the decision'). It's more common in legal or literary contexts.
Yes, but note usage: 'Wrong' can also be an adverb, especially after verbs. 'Wrongly' is often used before past participles (e.g., 'a wrongly addressed letter'). 'He did it wrong' (common) vs. 'He was wrongly accused' (more formal/typical).
It means to be pursuing a mistaken or misguided line of thought, to have a false idea about how to achieve something, or to accuse the wrong person.