astray

[ uh-strey ]

adverb

1. out of the right way; off the correct or known road, path, or route:

   Despite specific instructions, they went astray and got lost.

2. away from that which is right; into error, confusion, or undesirable action or thought:

   They were led astray by their lust for money.

astray

/ əˈstreɪ /

adjective

1. out of the correct path or direction
2. out of the right, good, or expected way; into error

Word History and Origins

Origin of astray¹

1250–1300; Middle English astraye < Anglo-French *astraié, Old French estraié, past participle of estraier; stray

Word History and Origins

Origin of astray¹

C13: from Old French estraie roaming, from estraier to stray

Idioms and Phrases

see best-laid plans go astray ; go astray .

Example Sentences

He said Stewart, who had never received a federal contract before, was led astray by an unnamed third party who had promised the goods and then failed to deliver.

From Washington Post

For instance, an operator can click on a specific location and Spot will travel to it, using its onboard sensors to ensure that it doesn’t tip over or go astray along the way.

From Popular-Science

It is also less likely than other state-of-the-art image recognition models to be led astray by adversarial examples, which have been subtly altered in ways that typically confuse algorithms even though humans might not notice a difference.

From MIT Technology Review

You know, so many times people have been led astray or disappointed.

From Voice of San Diego

You can make mistakes or go astray for a while, but that doesn’t matter in the long run.

From Quanta Magazine

But sometimes, the quest for facts lets us down, or leads us astray, and leaves us worse off than before, not better.

From The Daily Beast

Certainly, other communities—ultra-Orthodox Jews, for example—are fretting about members who go online, and then astray.

From The Daily Beast

The spokeswoman suggests that the girls had not been radicalized, only led astray.

From The Daily Beast

Percy Heath, a merry fellow, specialized in leading the Reverend Professor Doctor astray and had a lot of fun with him.

From The Daily Beast

The Israelis have not yet confirmed that these were their shells, and have raised the possibility that a Hamas rocket went astray.

From The Daily Beast

Many shall come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and shall lead many astray.

From Project Gutenberg

And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray.

From Project Gutenberg

Directors sometimes go astray and cases are constantly arising to determine their liability.

From Project Gutenberg

A repair to the car delayed us and we went several miles astray on the road.

From Project Gutenberg

For as it was your mind to go astray from God; so when you return again you shall seek him ten times as much.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• afield
• awry