use-icon

HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.

Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.

guide to the dictionary

use-icon

THE USAGE PANEL

The Usage Panel is a group of nearly 200 prominent scholars, creative writers, journalists, diplomats, and others in occupations requiring mastery of language. Annual surveys have gauged the acceptability of particular usages and grammatical constructions.

The Panelists

open-icon

AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP

The new American Heritage Dictionary app is now available for iOS and Android.

scroll-icon

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG

The articles in our blog examine new words, revised definitions, interesting images from the fifth edition, discussions of usage, and more.

100-words-icon

See word lists from the best-selling 100 Words Series!

Find out more!

open-icon

INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?

Check out the Dictionary Society of North America at http://www.dictionarysociety.com

wrong (rông, rŏng)
Share:
adj.
1. Not in conformity with fact or truth; incorrect or erroneous: a wrong answer.
2.
a. Contrary to conscience, morality, or law: Stealing is wrong.
b. Unfair; unjust: The kids felt it was wrong when some got to go on the field trip but not others.
3. Not required, intended, or wanted: took a wrong turn.
4. Not fitting or suitable; inappropriate or improper: said the wrong thing.
5. Not in accord with established usage, method, or procedure: the wrong way to shuck clams.
6. Not functioning properly; amiss: What is wrong with the TV?
7. Designating the side, as of a garment, that is less finished and not intended to show: socks worn wrong side out.
adv.
1. In a wrong manner; mistakenly or erroneously: answered wrong.
2. In a wrong course or direction: turned wrong at the crossroads.
3. Immorally or unjustly: She acted wrong in lying.
n.
1.
a. An unjust, injurious, or immoral act: felt that he had been done a wrong.
b. That which is unjust, immoral, or improper: doesn't seem to know right from wrong.
c. The condition of being in error or at fault: I hate being in the wrong.
2.
a. An invasion or a violation of another's legal rights.
b. Law A tort.
tr.v. wronged, wrong·ing, wrongs
1. To treat (someone) unjustly or injuriously.
2. To discredit unjustly; malign: "those whom he had wronged with his bitter pen" (Evan I. Schwartz).
Idioms:
do (someone) wrong Informal
To be unfaithful or disloyal.
go wrong
1. To go amiss; turn out badly: What went wrong with their business?
2. To make a mistake or mistakes: parents wondering where they went wrong raising their child.
3. To behave immorally after a period of innocence or moral behavior: a young man who went wrong.

[Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; see wer-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

wronger n.
wrongly adv.
wrongness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.