# amiss

/əˈmɪs/ (US) · /ɐmˈɪs/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/amiss
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

wrong, bad, or not quite right. You use this when something is slightly off or doesn't feel quite normal.

For teachers: improper, wrong, or not quite right. Often used in the phrase 'something is amiss' to indicate a sense of unease or a perceived fault.

## Examples

- Something is amiss with the car engine.
- The manager noticed something was amiss when the sales figures didn't match the inventory reports.
- A sense of unease settled over the group as they realized something was amiss with the carefully prepared schedule for the evening's performance.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.