incorrectly

incorrectly — adverb

1. Containing a mistake or not being based on facts — applies when someone says, wr

1.adverbB1
Definition

Containing a mistake or not being based on facts — applies when someone says, writes, or believes something that is factually wrong.

Example

Tariq answered the math question incorrectly and lost two points.

answer + incorrectly (test/assessment context)

The newspaper incorrectly reported that the mayor had resigned.

incorrectly + report (media context)

Common collocations
  • answer incorrectly
  • reported incorrectly
  • assumed incorrectly
  • stated incorrectly
  • entered incorrectly
  • filled in incorrectly
  • calculated incorrectly
Synonyms
  • wrongly

    more general and more common in legal or ethical contexts (wrongly accused)

  • erroneously

    more formal; suggests a mistake based on flawed information or reasoning

  • inaccurately

    emphasizes lack of precision rather than complete falsehood

  • falsely

    implies deliberate deception or something contrary to known facts

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

verb + incorrectly

incorrectly + verb

incorrectly + adjective

Usage Note

Commonly modifies verbs of communication or belief, such as state, claim, report, assume, or answer. Frequently appears in passive constructions (was told incorrectly, was reported incorrectly).

Common Mistakes

He answered wrong the question.
He answered the question incorrectly.
'Wrong' can be used as an adverb in informal English, but 'incorrectly' is the standard adverb form in written and formal contexts.
The thermometer measured the temperature inaccurately by 20 degrees.
The thermometer measured the temperature incorrectly by 20 degrees.
'Inaccurately' means not precise enough, while 'incorrectly' means completely wrong; use 'incorrectly' when the error is significant.

2. Failing to follow the expected or proper method — describes an action or procedu

2.adverbB2
Definition

Failing to follow the expected or proper method — describes an action or procedure whose execution does not meet the accepted standard or norm.

Example

The employee behaved incorrectly toward customers and was fired.

behave + incorrectly (social conduct)

The coach treated Valentina's son incorrectly during practice.

passive: treated incorrectly

Common collocations
  • behave incorrectly
  • treated incorrectly
  • assembled incorrectly
  • taught incorrectly
  • stored incorrectly
  • installed incorrectly
  • used incorrectly
Synonyms
  • improperly

    more direct synonym for this sense; emphasizes violation of expected standards

  • wrongly

    informal; common but less precise

  • inappropriately

    focuses on social or contextual unsuitability rather than procedural error

Antonyms
  • correctly

    in a way that follows proper standards or procedures

  • properly

    in a way that meets expected norms

Grammar Patterns

verb + incorrectly

Usage Note

Typically modifies verbs describing how an action is performed, such as behave, treat, assemble, install, or store. Unlike sense 1, which concerns factual truth, this sense concerns procedural or behavioral norms — the action itself is done the wrong way.

Common Mistakes

She answered incorrectly to his rude comment.
She responded inappropriately to his rude comment.
'Answer incorrectly' (sense 1) is about factual wrongness, not about improper social conduct. Use 'inappropriately' for social norms.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Wrongly is the most general and common of these four, appearing especially in legal or ethical contexts (wrongly accused, wrongly convicted). Erroneously is more formal and suggests a mistake arising from incorrect information or flawed reasoning (erroneously believed the date had changed). Inaccurately emphasizes a lack of precision rather than complete falsehood — a measurement can be inaccurate by a small margin without being entirely wrong. Falsely carries the strongest implication, often suggesting deliberate deception or a claim made without any basis in fact, and is common in legal usage (falsely imprisoned, falsely claimed). Choose wrongly for everyday contexts, erroneously for formal writing, inaccurately when the error is one of degree, and falsely when deception or legal implication is involved.

wrongly ↗erroneouslyinaccuratelyfalsely

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed from the adjective 'incorrect' + the adverbial suffix '-ly'. 'Incorrect' comes from Latin 'incorrectus', meaning 'not corrected, unamended', from the prefix 'in-' ('not') and 'correctus' ('made straight, corrected'). The word entered English through Middle French in the 15th century, originally used in scholarly contexts to describe errors in texts or arguments.