erroneous

adjective

er·​ro·​ne·​ous i-ˈrō-nē-əs 

e-

1

: containing or characterized by error : mistaken

erroneous assumptions

gave an erroneous impression

2

archaic : wandering

erroneously adverb

erroneousness noun

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How to Define Erroneous

Erroneous basically means "containing errors", and, since most of us are constantly suffering from mistaken notions, the word is often used in front of words such as "assumption" and "idea". It's also used to describe the kind of mistaken information that can lead to erroneous theories, erroneous conclusions, and erroneous decisions.

Synonyms of erroneous

• inaccurate
• incorrect
• wrong
• false

Examples of erroneous in a Sentence

When you're done, the programs scour your return for potential problems and erroneous data and let you correct them. Then, poof! Either print out your 1040 and related documents or follow the software prompts to file electronically. —Kathy Yakal, PC Magazine, 9 Mar. 1999

Here we come face-to-face with the uncompromising rules of golf as Mr. Dobereiner recounts how Roberto de Vincenzo lost the 1968 Masters Tournament by a single stroke because he signed an erroneous scorecard. —Robert R. Harris, New York Times Book Review, 21 Oct. 1984

To say truth, nothing is more erroneous than the common observation, that men who are ill-natured and quarrelsome when they are drunk, are very worthy persons when they are sober: for drink, in reality, doth not reverse nature, or create passions in men which did not exist in them before. —Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, 1749

a poorly researched news article about the new virus that was filled with much erroneous information

Recent Examples on the Web

Then, in 2005, the Texas First Court of Appeals overturned Yates’ conviction after finding the forensic psychiatrist who testified for the prosecution gave erroneous testimony that may have prejudiced the jury. —Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026

This story has been updated to remove erroneous information on funding for the Boulevard Green project and to correct details on the trip to Dallas. —Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 17 Apr. 2026

American Express is pledging to protect users from erroneous transactions made by agents that are registered with Amex. —Jack Kubinec, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026

In January, Cox issued a decision that found a section of California’s government code, which establishes a three-year statute of limitations related to erroneous payments, applied to these individuals’ cases. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "misguided by heresy, heretical, false," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French erroygneus, erronous "faulty, flawed," borrowed from Late Latin errōneus "leading into error, false," going back to Latin, "given to wandering or straying," from errōn-, errō "person (as a slave) absent without leave, truant" (from the base of errāre "to wander, roam, drift" + -ōn-, -ō, suffix of nouns denoting persons with a prominent characteristic) + -eus -eous — more at err

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing erroneous

• in the mistaken/erroneous belief that

Rhymes for erroneous

• felonious
• harmonious
• peroneus
• polonius
• acrimonious
• ceremonious
• inharmonious
• parsimonious
• sanctimonious
• unceremonious

Kids Definition

erroneous

adjective

er·​ro·​ne·​ous ir-ˈō-nē-əs 

e-ˈrō-

: being wrong or inaccurate

especially : being or containing an error

an erroneous report

erroneously adverb

erroneousness noun

Legal Definition

erroneous

adjective

er·​ro·​ne·​ous i-ˈrō-nē-əs, e- 

: containing or characterized by error see also clearly erroneous

erroneously adverb

erroneousness noun