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

Those incorrect mental models made intuitive sense at the time, just as chains of thought do now. — John Pavlus, Quanta Magazine, 31 July 2026

Before the accident, Bering Air routinely flew its planes over the safe weight and used an incorrect maximum allowable weight for icing conditions, the report noted. — Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 30 July 2026

If any of these assumptions is incorrect, the implications for businesses, local governments and Floridians are significant. — Abigail Hall, The Conversation, 30 July 2026

Those results show both the investigative value and the risk of an incorrect match. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 July 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