erroneous

[ ih-roh-nee-uhs, e-roh- ]

adjective

1. containing error; mistaken; incorrect; wrong:

   an erroneous answer.

   Synonyms: false, untrue, inaccurate

   Antonyms: accurate

2. straying from what is moral, decent, proper, etc.

erroneous

/ ɪˈrəʊnɪəs /

adjective

1. based on or containing error; mistaken; incorrect

Derived Forms

• erˈroneousness, noun
• erˈroneously, adverb

Other Words From

• er·ro·ne·ous·ly adverb
• er·ro·ne·ous·ness noun
• non·er·ro·ne·ous adjective
• non·er·ro·ne·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of erroneous¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin errōneus “straying,” equivalent to errōn- (stem of errō ) “wanderer” (derivative of err-; err ) + -eus adjective suffix ( -eous )

Word History and Origins

Origin of erroneous¹

C14: (in the sense: deviating from what is right), from Latin errōneus, from errāre to wander

Example Sentences

Within the States, in particular, the cuisine has garnered an erroneous reputation for solely consisting of just curries or meals saturated with oil.

From Salon

The government is launching an independent review into Carer’s Allowance overpayments, after concerns some families were forced to pay back thousands of pounds in erroneous payments.

From BBC

Rick Prior, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said he was pleased "justice has been done", and described the original conviction as "erroneous and perverse".

From BBC

Muir and Davis divided up the topics to study, and Davis fully anticipated that Trump’s erroneous abortion claim would come up when she questioned him on the issue.

From Los Angeles Times

“What is problematic is if they are making that decision based on erroneous or incorrect beliefs about efficacy.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• false
• faulty
• flawed
• inaccurate
• invalid
• misguided
• mistaken
• specious
• spurious
• unfounded
• unsound
• untrue