wrongness

IPA/ˈrɒŋnəs/
IPA/ˈrɔːŋnəs/

wrongness — noun

1. the quality of being factually incorrect, unsuitable, or not matching what is tr

1.nounB2
Definition

the quality of being factually incorrect, unsuitable, or not matching what is true or expected

Example

Wei checked the bus timetable and noticed the wrongness of the departure time listed online.

the wrongness of + noun phrase

The wrongness of the contract's Korean translation became clear when Mateo checked the original English text.

the wrongness of + noun (abstract quality)

Common collocations
  • feel the wrongness of
  • notice the wrongness
  • a sense of wrongness
  • point out the wrongness
Synonyms
  • incorrectness

    more formal, often used in academic or technical settings

  • inaccuracy

    focuses on lack of precision rather than outright error

  • falseness

    implies something is deliberately untrue, stronger than wrongness

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

the wrongness of + noun phrase

a sense of wrongness about + noun

Usage Note

Uncountable and nearly always used with 'the' or a possessive determiner. The pattern 'the wrongness of something' is the most common way this sense appears.

Common Mistakes

There is a wrongness with the machine.
There is something wrong with the machine.
'wrongness' is an abstract quality; for concrete problems use 'wrong' as an adjective.
I noticed several wrongnesses in the report.
I noticed several errors in the report.
'wrongness' is uncountable and refers to the overall quality, not individual mistakes.

2. the quality of being morally bad, unfair, or dishonest — something that goes aga

2.nounC1
Definition

the quality of being morally bad, unfair, or dishonest — something that goes against a person's sense of right and wrong

Example

Tunde spoke out about the wrongness of taking credit for someone else's hard work.

the wrongness of + gerund phrase

The wrongness of the manager yelling at the teenage waiter struck Anong the moment she saw it.

Common collocations
  • recognise the wrongness of
  • moral wrongness
  • the wrongness of + gerund
  • a deep sense of wrongness
Synonyms
  • immorality

    stronger and more absolute; implies a clear violation of moral principles

  • injustice

    focuses on unfairness rather than general moral failing

  • dishonesty

    specifically about not telling the truth or hiding facts

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

the wrongness of + gerund/noun phrase

recognise the wrongness of + noun

Usage Note

Used in moral or ethical discussions, often about dishonesty, unfairness, or betrayal. Distinguish from sense 1 (BEING INCORRECT), which is about factual accuracy — this sense always carries a judgement about right and wrong behaviour.

Common Mistakes

The wrongness of the answer was obvious.' (when referring to a moral issue).
The wrongness of the answer was obvious.
This sentence could fit either sense; if you mean a moral wrong, add context: 'The moral wrongness of his answer shocked the committee.'

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These words all describe something being wrong, but they differ in scope and tone. Wrongness is the broadest — it names the general quality of being incorrect or unsuitable, and fits everyday conversation. Incorrectness is more formal and feels at home in academic or technical writing (the incorrectness of the formula). Inaccuracy narrows the focus to precision: a clock can be inaccurate without being altogether wrong. Error is a countable noun naming a specific mistake, not an abstract quality — you spot an error in a spreadsheet, not an errorness. Falseness goes further, implying deliberate untruth or a mismatch with reality that matters (the falseness of his alibi). Use wrongness when you want to name the abstract quality itself rather than a single instance.

incorrectness ↗inaccuracy ↗error ↗falseness ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • the wrongness of
  • a sense of wrongness
  • feel the wrongness

Prepositions

Etymology

Old NorseOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed from the adjective wrong (from Old English wrang, borrowed from Old Norse rangr meaning 'crooked' or 'unjust') and the noun-forming suffix -ness (from Old English -nes). The word has been used in English since the 1300s. The base word wrong shifted from physical crookedness to moral and factual incorrectness over the medieval period, and wrongness followed both senses.