incorrect

adjective

in·​cor·​rect ˌin-kə-ˈrekt 

1

a

: not true : wrong

incorrect answers

b

: inaccurate, faulty

an incorrect transcription

2

: unbecoming, improper

incorrect behavior

3

obsolete : not corrected or chastened

incorrectly

ˌin-kə-ˈrek(t)-lē 

adverb

incorrectness

ˌin-kə-ˈrek(t)-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• mistaken
• wrong

Examples of incorrect in a Sentence

The doctor's diagnosis was incorrect.

The story in the newspaper is incorrect.

The restaurant considers jeans and T-shirts incorrect attire for dinner.

Recent Examples on the Web

Many of those who have lost insurance missed form deadlines or had an incorrect address, while others no longer met the eligibility criteria. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025

Wednesday's edition included incorrect information about King's votes. —Tony Holt, arkansasonline.com, 13 Feb. 2025

That’s incorrect: America can’t re-establish its dominance over the most advanced AI, because the technology, the data and the expertise that created it are already distributed all around the world. —Zeynep Tufekci, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2025

An excerpt from Google's Super Bowl ad as it was posted last week shows incorrect Gouda stats. —Ars Technica, 5 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin incorrectus, from in- + correctus correct

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing incorrect

• politically incorrect

Kids Definition

incorrect

adjective

in·​cor·​rect ˌin-kə-ˈrekt 

: not correct: as

a

: inaccurate, faulty

an incorrect copy

b

: not true : wrong

an incorrect answer

c

: not proper

incorrect behavior

incorrectly

-ˈrek-(t)lē 

adverb

incorrectness

-ˈrek(t)-nəs 

noun