Meaning & use
erroneous
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Meanings
adjectivenot comparableformal
Not correct because of a mistake in facts, calculation or thinking.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: an erroneous claim; the report was erroneous.
Patterns
- erroneous belief
- erroneous conclusion
The newspaper printed an erroneous report about the fire.
His erroneous calculation delayed the project.
It is erroneous to assume that everyone agrees.
adjectivebefore a nounformal
Based on a false idea that someone holds, such as a belief or assumption.
Grammar: Often modifies belief, assumption or impression.
Patterns
- erroneous assumption
- erroneous impression
Many people hold the erroneous belief that lightning never strikes twice.
She acted under an erroneous impression about the rules.
An erroneous assumption led to the wrong decision.
Common combinations
- erroneous belief
- It is an erroneous belief that cold weather causes colds.
- erroneous conclusion
- They reached an erroneous conclusion from the data.
- erroneous information
- The website gave erroneous information about opening hours.
- erroneous assumption
- The plan rests on an erroneous assumption.
- erroneous report
- An erroneous report said the road was open.
Synonyms and how they differ
- wrong
- Wrong is the everyday word and works for people, answers and actions, while erroneous sounds formal and fits claims and data.
- mistaken
- Mistaken is usually used for a person who is wrong, while erroneous describes the idea or statement.
- incorrect
- Incorrect is neutral and points to a failure to match the facts, with no sense of a wrong belief.
- false
- False can suggest intentional untruth, while erroneous suggests an honest mistake.
Opposites
Word family
- error noun
- a mistake
- erroneously adverb
- by mistake
- err verb
- to make a mistake
- errant adjective
- straying from the proper course
Commonly confused: erroneous or errant? erroneous or erroneous vs eronious?
erroneous vs errant
Errant means wandering off the correct path, as in an errant ball, while erroneous means incorrect.
erroneous vs erroneous vs eronious
The correct spelling has two r's: erroneous.
Practice
The article was withdrawn after it gave ___ figures about unemployment.
Choose one answer.
Erroneous describes figures that are wrong because of a mistake. Errant means straying, which does not fit data.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “erroneous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.