Definition of 'wrong'

Word Frequency

wrong

(rɔŋ )

Word forms: wrongs

1. adjective [v-link ADJ]

If you say there is something wrong, you mean there is something unsatisfactory about the situation, person, or thing you are talking about.

Pain is the body's way of telling us that something is wrong.

Nobody seemed to notice anything wrong.

What's wrong with him?

2. adjective

If you choose the wrong thing, person, or method, you make a mistake and do not choose the one that you really want.

He went to the wrong house.

The wrong man had been punished.

3. adjective [ADJ n]

If something such as a decision, choice, or action is the wrong one, it is not the best or most suitable one.

I really made the wrong decision there.

The wrong choice of job might limit your chances of success.

4. adjective

If something is wrong, it is incorrect and not in accordance with the facts.

How do you know that this explanation is wrong?

...a clock which showed the wrong time.

5. adjective [v-link ADJ]

If something is wrong or goes wrong with a machine or piece of equipment, it stops working properly.

We think there's something wrong with the computer.

6. adjective [v-link ADJ]

If you are wrong about something, what you say or think about it is not correct.

I was wrong about it being a casual meeting.

I'm sure you've got it wrong. Kate isn't like that.

7. adjective [ADJ to-inf]

If you think that someone was wrong to do something, you think that they should not have done it because it was bad or immoral.

She was wrong to leave her child alone.

8. adjective [v-link ADJ]

Wrong is used to refer to activities or actions that are considered to be morally bad and unacceptable.

Is it wrong to try to save the life of someone you love?

They thought slavery was morally wrong.

9. countable noun

A wrong is an unfair or immoral action.

No matter how difficult it might be, she had to right the terrible wrong she'd done to him.

10. adjective [ADJ n]

You use wrong to describe something that is not thought to be socially acceptable or desirable.

If you went to the wrong school, you won't get the job.

11.

go wrong

12.

in the wrong

13. to get off on the wrong foot

14. to get hold of the wrong end of the stick

Derived forms

wrongly adverb [ADV with v]

A child was wrongly diagnosed as having a bone tumor.

Video: pronunciation of 'wrong'

Word Frequency

wrong in American

(rɔŋ ; rôŋ)

adjective

not in accordance with justice, law, morality, etc.; unlawful, immoral, or improper

not in accordance with an established standard, previous arrangement, given intention, etc.

the wrong method, came on the wrong day

not suitable or appropriate

the wrong thing to say

contrary to fact, reason, some set standard, etc.; incorrect; inaccurate; false

acting, judging, believing, etc. incorrectly; mistaken

unsatisfactory; in a bad state or condition

not functioning properly; out of order

something wrong with her eyes

designating the side, surface, etc. that is not meant to be seen; designating the unfinished, inner, or under side

the wrong side of a fabric

adverb

in a wrong manner, direction, etc.; so as to be wrong; incorrectly; amiss

noun

that which is not right, or not just, proper, correct, etc.; esp., an unjust or immoral act

10. Law

a violation or invasion of a legal right; injurious act, as a tort

verb transitive

11.

to treat badly or unjustly; do wrong to; injure

12.

to think badly of without real justification

13.

to malign; dishonor

14.

to seduce (a woman)

Idioms:

get someone in wrong

get someone (or something) wrong

go wrong

in the wrong

SYNONYMY NOTE: wrong implies the inflicting of unmerited injury or harm upon another [he was wronged by false charges]; oppress implies a burdening with harsh, rigorous impositions or the cruel or unjust use of power [oppressed by heavy taxation]; persecute suggests constant harassment or the relentless infliction of cruelty and suffering [the persecuted minorities of Nazi Germany]; aggrieve suggests the infliction of such wrongs or injuries as seem a just cause for complaint or resentment [aggrieved by her ill-treatment of him]; abuse suggests improper or hurtful treatment, as by the use of insulting or coarse language [her much-abused husband]

Derived forms

wronger (ˈwronger)

noun

wrongly (ˈwrongly)

adverb

wrongness (ˈwrongness)

noun

Word origin of 'wrong'

ME, crooked, twisted, wrong < OE wrang < ON rangr, wrangr, wrong, twisted: for IE base see wring

Word Frequency

wrong in British

(rɒŋ )

adjective

not correct or truthful

the wrong answer

acting or judging in error

you are wrong to think that

3. (postpositive)

immoral; bad

it is wrong to cheat

deviating from or unacceptable to correct or conventional laws, usage, etc

not intended or wanted

the wrong road

6. (postpositive)

not working properly; amiss

something is wrong with the engine

7. US

(of a side, esp of a fabric) intended to face the inside so as not to be seen

8. get on the wrong side of

9. go down the wrong way

adverb

10.

in the wrong direction or manner

11. go wrong

12. get wrong

noun

13.

a bad, immoral, or unjust thing or action

14. law

an infringement of another person's rights, rendering the offender liable to a civil action, as for breach of contract or tort

a private wrong

a violation of public rights and duties, affecting the community as a whole and actionable at the instance of the Crown

a public wrong

15. in the wrong

verb (transitive)

16.

to treat unjustly

17.

to discredit, malign, or misrepresent

18.

to seduce or violate

Derived forms

wronger (ˈwronger)

noun

wrongly (ˈwrongly)

adverb

wrongness (ˈwrongness)

noun

Word origin of 'wrong'

Old English wrang injustice, from Old Norse vrang; see wring

Example sentences containing 'wrong'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

The government is heading in completely the wrong direction. Times, Sunday Times (2017)So where did it all go wrong? The Sun (2016)This will give you peace of mind if anything goes wrong before your trip. The Sun (2017)This guy is married and she says she was wrong to get involved. The Sun (2016)They are going about things the wrong way. The Sun (2016)She felt this was probably because she came from the wrong side of the tracks. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The contestant got the answer wrong. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Have you got the wrong person? The Sun (2016)That is economically irrational, morally wrong and politically foolish. Times, Sunday Times (2016)We were strict but fair and they were taught right from wrong. Times, Sunday Times (2011)Some also consider it morally wrong to mould new life. Times, Sunday Times (2008)It would be unfair and wrong of me to single anyone out for errors. The Sun (2014)Why do you always pick the wrong ones? Times, Sunday Times (2009)She can say what was wrong and what was right. Times, Sunday Times (2011)Within a few months it was obvious there was something else really wrong. The Sun (2013)Who are you to say that sleeping with another woman is wrong? Christianity Today (2000)Whose responsibility is it if something goes wrong? Times, Sunday Times (2009)The wrong one can make you look deathly. Times, Sunday Times (2007)This is the wrong way of looking at it. Times, Sunday Times (2013)There is no right or wrong answer here. Times, Sunday Times (2014)Where facts are wrong you correct them. Times, Sunday Times (2009)We think these are steps in the wrong direction. Times, Sunday Times (2012)They see this weird loner who flirts with these things and gets it wrong. Times, Sunday Times (2016)What is wrong with hurting their feelings a bit? Times, Sunday Times (2012)We realised there must be something wrong with our credit rating. Times, Sunday Times (2015)You feel you are doing something morally wrong. Times, Sunday Times (2012)There is no suggestion that the banks have done anything wrong. Times, Sunday Times (2015)They were poor and on the wrong side of history. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The mugger picked on the wrong person at the wrong time. The Sun (2010)It is wrong for civil servants with no experience of war to decide who should receive war medals. Times, Sunday Times (2012)They understand when a punt on an oil company goes wrong because the well turns out to be dry. Times, Sunday Times (2015)

Quotations

A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterdayAlexander Pope Miscellanies

Two wrongs don't make a right