Erroneous basically means "containing errors", and, since most of us are constantly suffering from mistaken notions, the word is often used in front of words such as "assumption" and "idea". It's also used to describe the kind of mistaken information that can lead to erroneous theories, erroneous conclusions, and erroneous decisions.
When you're done, the programs scour your return for potential problems and erroneous data and let you correct them. Then, poof! Either print out your 1040 and related documents or follow the software prompts to file electronically. Kathy Yakal, PC Magazine, 9 Mar. 1999Here we come face-to-face with the uncompromising rules of golf as Mr. Dobereiner recounts how Roberto de Vincenzo lost the 1968 Masters Tournament by a single stroke because he signed an erroneous scorecard. Robert R. Harris, New York Times Book Review, 21 Oct. 1984To say truth, nothing is more erroneous than the common observation, that men who are ill-natured and quarrelsome when they are drunk, are very worthy persons when they are sober: for drink, in reality, doth not reverse nature, or create passions in men which did not exist in them before. Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, 1749 a poorly researched news article about the new virus that was filled with much erroneous information
Recent Examples on the WebWriting about the racist backlash the show has faced, The Hollywood Reporter‘s Richard Newby said the criticism was erroneous. Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Sep. 2022 Because any substantive due process decision is ‘demonstrably erroneous’ . . . Jonathan Edwards, BostonGlobe.com, 26 July 2022 That decision was later determined to be erroneous (but not reversed).New York Times, 11 May 2022 David also confirmed the design for an erroneous sketch of the gown to a Woman's Wear Daily reporter, who approached him on the morning of the couple's wedding. Nicole Briese, Peoplemag, 12 Aug. 2022 The lawsuit, which is seeking class-action status, notes that over the three-week period Equifax sent out erroneous scores, 25 million credit reports were pulled from the three credit bureaus. Irina Ivanova, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2022 The erroneous scores were for people applying for auto loans, credit cards and mortgages at lenders big and small. Annamaria Andriotis, WSJ, 10 Aug. 2022 The erroneous ballots only affected municipal races. Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic, 5 Aug. 2022 Jones repeatedly failed to hand over documents and evidence to the court supporting his damaging and erroneous claims. Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin erroneus, from erron-, erro wanderer, from errare — see err