Amiss

Amiss is an English adjective that describes something not in its proper condition, out of place, or otherwise wrong or inappropriate. The phrase something is amiss is commonly used to indicate that there appears to be a problem, anomaly, or deviation from what is expected. The expression the situation is amiss conveys a sense of suspicion or unease about how things are proceeding, while to go amiss means for an event or action to fail or not go as planned.

In usage, amiss typically refers to circumstances, systems, or explanations rather than to people. It can be used of objects, arrangements, processes, or narratives, signaling that there is something faulty or incongruent. The term can function in predicative position, as in All seemed amiss, or be embedded in phrases such as something is amiss in the story or something went amiss during the procedure.

Etymology is not always discussed in short summaries, but amiss has been a stable part of English since medieval times and remains common in contemporary usage in both prose and speech.

As a surname, Amiss exists in English-speaking countries. Notable individuals include Dennis Amiss (born 1943), an English former cricketer and former captain of the national team. The surname is comparatively uncommon and appears in various public records and historical contexts.