incorrect

1 of 2

adjective

in·​cor·​rect ˌin-kə-ˈrekt How to pronounce incorrect (audio)
Synonyms of incorrectnext
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 How to pronounce incorrect (audio)
adverb
incorrectness
ˌin-kə-ˈrek(t)-nəs How to pronounce incorrect (audio)
noun

incorrectness

2 of 2

noun

in·​correctness "+ How to pronounce incorrectness (audio)
: the quality or state of being incorrect

Synonyms of incorrect

Relevance

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Relying on outdated or incorrect information can make or break a decision to go abroad. — Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Simple issues—such as unwashed hands, test strip problems, or incorrect meter use—can sometimes lead to inaccurate results. — Karen Berger, Verywell Health, 30 June 2026 Katie Needle responded with Palestine and was ruled incorrect by host Alex Trebek. — Louis Peitzman, Entertainment Weekly, 29 June 2026 The correct label was applied to the front of the product, but the incorrect label, which contains the ingredients statement, was applied to the back of the product. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for incorrect

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of incorrect was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing incorrect

Rhymes for incorrect

See All Rhymes for incorrect

Browse Nearby Words

incorpsed
incorrect
incorrectly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Incorrect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incorrect. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

incorrect

adjective
in·​cor·​rect ˌin-kə-ˈrekt How to pronounce incorrect (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce incorrect (audio)
adverb
incorrectness
-ˈrek(t)-nəs How to pronounce incorrect (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on incorrect

Nglish: Translation of incorrect for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All