wrongly

Wrongly is an English adverb meaning in a wrong, improper, or unjust manner. It modifies verbs and is used to signal that an action, belief, or judgment is not correct or fair. Common uses include phrases like wrongly accused, wrongly informed, or wrongly believed. The word can carry a sense of moral or ethical fault in addition to factual error.

Distinctions and related terms. Incorrectly and wrongly can overlap, but they carry different emphases. Incorrectly typically refers to factual or procedural error, whereas wrongly can imply moral fault, deception, or injustice. In legal or formal contexts, the related adverb wrongfully is often preferred when stressing illegality or injustice, as in wrongfully convicted.

Etymology and usage notes. Wrongly is formed from the adjective wrong plus the adverbial suffix -ly, a development traceable to Old English and the broader pattern of turning adjectives into adverbs with -ly. The sense of doing something in an incorrect or unjust way has been part of the word since the Middle English period and remains common in both spoken and written English. Style guides may suggest using incorrectly for neutral statements of error, while wrongly can be chosen for emphasis on fault or injustice.