English Reference
adjective

incorrect

adj.
US /ˌɪnkɝˈɛkt/ UK /ɪnkəɹˈɛkt/ in·cor·rect

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    not right or not true; containing a mistake.

    not in accordance with fact or truth; erroneous.

    Simple

    The teacher marked the answer as incorrect because the math was wrong.

    In context

    The initial report was based on incorrect data, leading the committee to reach a conclusion that was later thoroughly debunked.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    not suitable or not acceptable for a particular social situation.

    not in accordance with accepted standards of behavior or social convention.

    Simple

    It is considered incorrect to wear casual clothes to such a formal wedding.

    In context

    His comments were deemed politically incorrect, sparking a heated debate about the boundaries of professional discourse in the modern workplace.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Technical

    not working properly or not made the right way.

    exhibiting a fault or defect in construction or function.

    Simple

    The machine stopped working because of an incorrect setting in the software.

    In context

    The structural failure was eventually traced back to an incorrect assembly of the primary support beams during the construction phase.

This article has been updated to remove an incorrect description about the space between molecules in ice.

The Conversation· 3 Aug 2026

The article was also changed to remove an incorrect claim that the minutes of the STFC's governing council are not publicly available and to provide further detail on the government's position.

BBC News· 18 Mar 2026

From Middle French incorrect. By surface analysis, in- + correct.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin frm incorrect
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated