wrongness

UK: /ˈrɒŋnɪs/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

wrong /rɔŋ, rɑŋ/   adj. 

1. being in error;
   mistaken;
   not correct:
   a wrong answer.
2. not agreeing with truth or fact;
   incorrect:
   Their theory about how the universe began was just plain wrong.
3. not in agreement with what is morally right;
   evil;
   bad:
   [be + ~] Stealing and murder are wrong.
   [It + be + ~ + to + verb]
   It's wrong to steal and commit murder.
4. not proper;
   unsuitable:
   Those are definitely the wrong shoes for that dress.
5. out of order;
   amiss.

n. [countable]

6. something improper, immoral, unjust, or harmful:
   a series of wrongs committed against them just because they were different.

adv. 

7. in a wrong manner:
   I did it all wrong. Did I pronounce your name wrong?

v. [~ + object]

8. to do wrong to;
   harm.
9. to think badly of (someone) unjustly or unfairly.

Idioms

10. Idioms go wrong, [no object]
    • to go badly;
      fail:
      Everything went wrong with my computer after I installed that new program.
    • to follow an undesirable or evil course:
      Bad friends caused him to go wrong.
11. Idioms in the wrong, at fault.

wrong•ly, adv.: 

She was wrongly accused.

wrong•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

wrong  (rông, rong), adj. 

1. not in accordance with what is morally right or good:
   a wrong deed.
2. deviating from truth or fact;
   erroneous:
   a wrong answer.
3. not correct in action, judgment, opinion, method, etc., as a person;
   in error:
   You are wrong to blame him.
4. not proper or usual;
   not in accordance with requirements or recommended practice:
   the wrong way to hold a golf club.
5. out of order;
   awry;
   amiss:
   Something is wrong with the machine.
6. not suitable or appropriate:
   He always says the wrong thing.
7. (of clothing) that should be worn or kept inward or under:
   You're wearing the sweater wrong side out.

n. 

8. that which is wrong, or not in accordance with morality, goodness, or truth;
   evil:
   I committed many wrongs.
9. an injustice:
   The wrongs they suffered aged them.
10. Law, Sex and Gender
    • Law an invasion of another's right, to his damage.
    • a tort.
11. Slang Terms get in wrong, to cause to come into disfavor:
    We are forever getting in wrong with the people next door.
12. in the wrong, to blame;
    in error:
    He knew he was in the wrong but refused to concede the point.

adv. 

13. in a wrong manner;
    not rightly;
    awry;
    amiss:
    You did it wrong again.
14. go wrong:
    • to go amiss;
      fail:
      Everything is going wrong today.
    • to pursue an immoral course;
      become depraved:
      Bad friends caused him to go wrong.

v.t. 

15. to do wrong to;
    treat unfairly or unjustly;
    harm.
16. to impute evil to (someone) unjustly;
    malign.

• Old Danish wrang; compare Danish vrang wrong, Old Norse rangr awry; (verb, verbal and adverb, adverbial) Middle English, derivative of the adjective, adjectival; (noun, nominal) Middle English; Old English wrang, derivative of the adjective, adjectival; akin to wring
• (adjective, adjectival) Middle English wrong, wrang, Old English wrang, perh. bef. 1100

wrong′er, n. 
wrong′ly, adv. 
wrong′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. bad, evil, wicked, sinful, immoral, iniquitous, reprehensible, crooked.
• 2. inaccurate, incorrect, false, untrue, mistaken.
• 6. improper, unsuitable.
• 8. misdoing, wickedness, sin, vice.
• 15. maltreat, abuse, oppress, cheat, defraud, dishonor.