wrong

RAWNG/ˈɹɔŋ/UKRONG/ˈɹɒŋ/

Noun pluralwrongs

Verbwrongs, wronging, wronged

11 meanings of wrong

Practice

1
incorrectadjective
Not correct, or mistaken about something.
Like a math answer that gets a big red X.
His guess about the date was completely wrong.
The total printed on the receipt is wrong.
UsageSay I was wrong about it, or I got it wrong.
Similarincorrect, mistaken, inaccurate, erroneous, false
Oppositeright, correct, accurate, true
Note
2
morally badadjective
Bad, or against what is right.
Like breaking a promise you knew you should keep.
Stealing from your friends is wrong.
He knew it was wrong to lie to his parents.
UsageSay it is wrong to steal.
Similarimmoral, unethical, unjust, wicked, sinful
Oppositeright, moral, ethical, just
3
poor choiceadjective
Not right or suitable for a person or situation.
Like wearing a winter coat to the beach.
He wore the wrong shoes for hiking.
This is the wrong time to ask for a raise.
UsageSay the wrong bus or the wrong time.
Similarunsuitable, inappropriate, improper
Oppositeright, suitable, appropriate, proper
4
not workingadjective
Not working the way it should, or broken.
Like a clock that has stopped ticking.
Something is wrong with the printer again.
The car sounded wrong, so we pulled over.
UsageSay what's wrong with it? or just what's wrong?
Similaramiss, awry, faulty
Oppositeright
5
incorrectlyadverbcolloquial
In a way that is not correct.
Like putting a key in upside down so the door won't open.
You spelled my name wrong on the form.
She set the clock wrong and missed the bus.
UsageSay do it wrong, but wrongly before a verb: wrongly accused.
Similarincorrectly, badly, awry, amiss
Oppositeright, correctly
6
bad behaviornouncountable or uncountable
Behavior or things that are morally bad. The opposite of what is right.
Like a stain that shows up on something clean.
She saw no wrong in helping her neighbor move.
Kids need to learn the difference between right and wrong.
UsageChildren learn right from wrong.
Similarevil, injustice, wickedness, sin, immorality
Oppositeright, good
7
treat unfairlyverbtransitive
To treat someone unfairly or harm them, for example by denying their rights or blaming them falsely.
Like blaming a friend for something they didn't do.
She felt the company had wronged her for years.
Don't wrong the people who trusted you.
UsageYou often hear be wronged or feel wronged.
Similarmistreat, harm, abuse, injure
8
unfair actnouncountable
A bad or unfair thing done to someone.
Like a debt you owe someone after you hurt them.
He apologized for the wrong he had done to her.
You can't fix every wrong with money.
UsageTo right a wrong is to fix an unfair act.
Similargrievance
Note

Less common meanings

9
at faultnoununcountable
The position of being at fault or mistaken.
Like being the player who broke the rule in a game.
You're in the wrong if you broke the rules.
He finally admitted he was in the wrong.
UsageSay be in the wrong: be the one at fault.
Similarerror, wrongness
Oppositeright
Note
10
adjectiveobsolete
Twisted or bent out of a straight shape, looking crooked.
Similarcrooked, twisted, bent, warped
Oppositestraight, true
Note
11
facing inwardadjective
Meant to face inward, away from view.
Like the back of a rug, where the knots and loose ends are hidden.
Iron the patch onto the wrong side of the fabric, where it won't show.
Pin the paper pattern to the wrong side of the cloth before you cut it.
UsageWrong side out means inside out.
Similarreverse, inside, back
Oppositeright
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of wrong apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English "wrang," meaning wrong or twisted, which may have come from Old Norse "rangr" meaning crooked or wrong. Further back it goes to an old root meaning to twist or turn.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

English wrong derives from Old English wrang, glossed as wrong or twisted. en.wiktionary.org
Old Norse rangr meant crooked or wrong. en.wiktionary.org
The word ultimately derives from a root meaning to twist or turn. en.wiktionary.org