incorrect

1 of 2

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

incorrectness

2 of 2

noun

in·​correctness "+ 

: the quality or state of being incorrect

Synonyms of incorrect

Adjective

• wrong
• mistaken
• erroneous

Examples of incorrect in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

On Wednesday afternoon, a Woodway employee mistakenly escorted Adrianna and another student onto the incorrect bus. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Aug. 2026

Garcia and Vargas Bustamante both agreed that not all of the health advice available on social media is useless, predatory or incorrect. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Schmidt said in his opening remarks that Meta recognizes some users still sign up using incorrect birthdays but that the company takes enforcement of age limits seriously. — Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

In medicine, for instance, evidence is accumulating that even experienced doctors struggle to reliably catch incorrect AI recommendations. — Emelia S. Probasco, Foreign Affairs, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

First Known Use

Adjective

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