What does erroneous mean?
Word: Erroneous
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Erroneous means not correct because it rests on wrong facts or a false belief.
Synonyms: incorrect, inaccurate
Antonyms: accurate, correct
Word origin: Comes from Latin, from the verb errare.
How do you spell erroneous?
Syllables: er - ro - ne - ous
Tricky part: Pupils lose one r, or think of the word error and add an extra r in the middle.
Watch out for: eroneous, errorneous
Memory tip: To err is to slip up, and err gives this word its double r at the start and no more.
Erroneous in a sentence
Example 1: An erroneous date on the invitation sent half the guests to the hall a day early.
Example 2: Early maps gave an erroneous picture of the coastline of India.
Example 3: Please check the total again, because one erroneous figure will spoil the whole report.
Fun Fact
Errand looks like a relative of erroneous, but it is not. Errand comes from an Old English word for a message, while erroneous reached English from Latin.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Probe
Fill the blanks with 'o' and 'e'. Which option gives the meaning of that word?
1. sp__nt__neous 2. m__n__tonous 3. err__n__ous 4. c__nt__nuous
a) happening without any planning
b) going on without a break
c) dull because it never changes
d) containing mistakes that mislead the reader
Show answer
d) containing mistakes that mislead the reader. Those two letters complete only err__n__ous; the others need o with a, o with o, or o with i.
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
123456789 ruoesnore
a) 478369125
b) 814369725
c) 418369725
d) 418569723
Show answer
c) 418369725. That order gives the word that means wrong; each of the others leaves two letters out of place.
Word Champ
Read the statements and choose the correct option:
1. An erroneous entry in a register needs to be put right. 2. A candid reply is honest and open. 3. A tedious lesson keeps everyone on the edge of their seats.
a) only 2 and 3 are true
b) all three are true
c) only 3 is true
d) only 1 and 2 are true
Show answer
d) only 1 and 2 are true. Tedious means long and dull, so the lesson described cannot be tedious.
Back to the Roots
Choose the correct option:
Erroneous goes back to the Latin verb errare. What did errare mean?
a) to count
b) to argue
c) to wander
d) to write
Show answer
c) to wander. Someone who errs has wandered from the right path, which is how the idea of being wrong grew.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The weather app gave an erroneous forecast for Sunday. What probably happened?
a) Sun shone just as it had predicted.
b) Rain fell on a day it promised sun.
c) Rain fell just when it said it would.
d) The forecast arrived an hour early.
Show answer
b) Rain fell on a day it promised sun.
2. Which word could replace erroneous in 'the erroneous belief that bats are blind'?
a) popular
b) firm
c) ancient
d) mistaken
Show answer
d) mistaken
