erroneous

Erroneous is an adjective describing something that contains or is based on an error; it denotes that a claim, belief, data, or conclusion is not correct. It can apply to statements, results, interpretations, or decisions that are faulty due to mistakes, misinterpretation, or faulty evidence, rather than intentional deception.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin errare “to wander” with the suffix -neus to form errōneus, meaning “wandering, mistaken.” It entered English through French and has been used since the early modern period to describe things that are incorrect, flawed, or in error.

Usage: Erroneous is common in academic, legal, scientific, and journalistic writing as a careful way to indicate inaccuracy without asserting malice. It is often paired with examples such as “an erroneous assumption” or “an erroneous calculation.” It contrasts with synonyms like false or incorrect, with the nuance that erroneous stems from flawed premises, data, or reasoning rather than a simple truth-value rejection.

Nuance and related terms: The term implies that the error could be corrected with better information or reasoning. Related terms include error, mistake, miscalculation, misinformation, and fallacy. The adverbial form is erroneously, used to describe actions or conclusions produced through error, while errant is a related adjective meaning wandering or deviating from a path, sometimes with a broader sense of being mistaken.

See also: error, incorrect, false, miscalculation, fallacy, misinformation, mistaken.