incorrect

adjective

in·​cor·​rect ˌin-kə-ˈrekt 

1

a

: not true : wrong

incorrect answers

b

: inaccurate, faulty

an incorrect transcription

incorrect grammar/spelling/usage

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 of incorrect

• wrong
• mistaken
• erroneous

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

Bad data leads to incorrect signals, and too much data creates noise. —Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025

Missing apartment numbers, incomplete addresses and incorrect ZIP codes remain some of the biggest causes of delays. —Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025

Obviously, things could be flawed or incorrect, but that is always the case. —Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025

Ahshiselsaurus wimani was originally classified in 1935 as a specimen of the hadrosaurid genus Kritosaurus, which Malinzak said now, 90 years later, appears to be incorrect, according to a press release. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 5 Dec. 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

Rhymes for incorrect

• architect
• circumspect
• deselect
• dialect
• disconnect
• disinfect
• disrespect
• indirect
• intellect
• interject
• intersect
• pluperfect

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