wrongly

wrongly — adverb

1. Used to describe an action that produces a result different from what is true, c

1.adverbB1
Definition

Used to describe an action that produces a result different from what is true, correct, or intended — for instance, picking the wrong door in a building or writing down a phone number with the wrong digits.

Example

Sayaka wrongly assumed the meeting was at two o'clock, so she arrived an hour early.

wrongly + past-tense verb (assumed)

The hotel address was wrongly printed on the confirmation form, leaving several guests confused.

passive: be + wrongly + past participle (printed)

Common collocations
  • wrongly assumed
  • wrongly identified
  • wrongly printed
  • wrongly believed
  • wrongly accused
Synonyms
  • incorrectly

    The closest synonym; 'incorrectly' is slightly more formal and common in academic or technical contexts.

  • mistakenly

    Emphasizes that the error happened because of a misunderstanding or wrong belief.

  • erroneously

    More formal than 'wrongly'; typical in legal or scholarly writing.

Antonyms
  • correctly

    The direct opposite — doing something in the right way.

  • accurately

    Emphasizes precision and exactness rather than simple correctness.

Grammar Patterns

wrongly + past participle (e.g., wrongly assumed)

wrongly + past-tense verb

Usage Note

Distinguish from the adjective 'wrong' used after linking verbs ('Her answer was wrong'). In formal writing, 'wrongly' is the preferred adverb form, though the flat adverb 'wrong' is common in everyday speech ('You spelled it wrong').

Common Mistakes

Hari was wrong accused of taking the money.
Hari was wrongly accused of taking the money.
Use 'wrongly' (the adverb) before a past participle in a passive construction, not the adjective 'wrong'.
The machine functions wrong when it gets wet.
The machine functions wrongly when it gets wet.
When modifying a verb in formal writing, use 'wrongly' instead of the flat adverb 'wrong'.

2. Describing treatment of a person or group that lacks fairness or moral justifica

2.adverbB2
Definition

Describing treatment of a person or group that lacks fairness or moral justification — for example, firing an employee for a mistake they did not make, or giving a harsher sentence to one person than to another for the same crime.

Example

Nadia was wrongly accused of stealing office supplies and had to prove her innocence.

passive: wrongly accused

A judge ruled that the man was wrongly detained for weeks without evidence.

passive: wrongly detained in legal context

Common collocations
  • wrongly accused
  • wrongly convicted
  • wrongly imprisoned
  • wrongly dismissed
  • wrongly blamed
Synonyms
  • unjustly

    The closest synonym; 'unjustly' more clearly emphasizes violation of fairness or legal right.

  • unfairly

    Slightly less formal than 'wrongly' in this sense; focuses on unequal or biased treatment.

  • unethically

    Focuses on violation of moral principles rather than legal justice.

Antonyms
  • justly

    The direct opposite — with fairness and moral right.

  • fairly

    Common opposite in everyday contexts.

Grammar Patterns

wrongly + past participle in passive voice (e.g., wrongly imprisoned)

wrongly + verb of treatment

Usage Note

Frequently appears in legal and ethical contexts (wrongly convicted, wrongly imprisoned, wrongly dismissed). Unlike sense 1 ('INCORRECTLY'), this sense carries a moral judgment — the action is not just factually wrong but also unfair or unjust.

Common Mistakes

She was treated wrong by the committee.
She was treated wrongly by the committee.
'Treated wrongly' is the correct adverb form for describing unfair treatment; 'wrong' as an adjective cannot modify the past participle.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words describe action done in error, but they differ in formality and focus. 'Wrongly' is the most versatile and neutral — it works in everyday speech ('wrongly addressed the envelope') and formal writing ('wrongly convicted'). 'Incorrectly' is common in academic, technical, and evaluation contexts ('incorrectly calculated the total'), carrying no moral overtones. 'Mistakenly' emphasizes that the error arose from a wrong belief or misunderstanding ('mistakenly thought the store was open'), and is less common in passive constructions about blame. 'Erroneously' is the most formal of the four, typical of legal, scientific, or scholarly writing ('erroneously concluded that the data supported the hypothesis'). For everyday use, 'wrongly' or 'mistakenly' are safest; for academic writing, 'incorrectly'; for formal or legal contexts, 'erroneously'.

wrongly ↗incorrectly ↗mistakenlyerroneously

Common collocations

Phrases

  • wrongly accused
  • wrongly convicted
  • wrongly identified
  • wrongly imprisoned
  • wrongly assumed
  • wrongly dismissed
  • wrongly blamed
  • wrongly claimed

Etymology

Old NorseMiddle EnglishEnglish

The adverb 'wrongly' was formed in Middle English by adding the suffix -ly (used to form adverbs from adjectives) to the adjective 'wrong.' The adjective 'wrong' itself came into English from Old Norse 'rangr,' meaning 'crooked' or 'unjust.' The original physical sense of 'crooked' or 'bent' gradually shifted toward moral and intellectual meanings — 'not right,' 'incorrect,' 'unfair' — which is why 'wrongly' still carries both the factual error sense and the moral injustice sense today.