inaccurate

[ in-ak-yer-it ]

/ ɪnˈæk yər ɪt /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: inaccurate / inaccurately on Thesaurus.com

adjective

not accurate; incorrect or untrue.

OTHER WORDS FOR inaccurate

inexact, loose; erroneous, wrong, faulty.

See synonyms for inaccurate on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of inaccurate

First recorded in 1730–40; in-³ + accurate

OTHER WORDS FROM inaccurate

in·ac·cu·rate·ly, adverbin·ac·cu·rate·ness, noun

Words nearby inaccurate

in a bind, in a breeze, in absentia, inaccessible, inaccuracy, inaccurate, in a cold sweat, inaction, inactivate, inactive, in addition

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT INACCURATE

What does inaccurate mean?

Inaccurate describes something that is incorrect, false, or not quite right, as in I came home at 9:30 last night, so saying I was out all night is inaccurate.

Inaccurate is the opposite of accurate, which describes something being free of defects or errors. You might describe a scale is inaccurate if it doesn’t show the precise weight of something.

Inaccurate can also describe something that is wrong or untrue. You could claim that the lie your brother told about you is inaccurate, especially if there’s a bit of truth in what he said but overall it’s wrong.

Example: The results of the test were inaccurate, but they can be used to improve the next one.

Where does inaccurate come from?

The first records of the term inaccurate come from around 1730. It combines the Latin prefix in–, which has a negative force, and the Latin accūrātus, meaning “carefully prepared.”

Inaccurate can mean “imprecise” in the sense that the thing being described is not perfectly correct. However, imprecise can also mean “vague or ill-defined,” while inaccurate does not. Being precise with your word choice will help to speak and write more accurately, which other people will appreciate.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to inaccurate?

inaccurately (adverb)
inaccurateness (noun)

What are some synonyms for inaccurate?

What are some words that share a root or word element with inaccurate?

What are some words that often get used in discussing inaccurate?

How is inaccurate used in real life?

Inaccurate is often used in research or education.

i’m no longer bothered by inaccurate perceptions of me. i just live my life w kindness and honesty. that’s all we can do.

— Andrea Russett (@AndreaRussett) July 11, 2019

Just confirmed from Roc Nation — The reports of Jay-Z setting up funds for Nipsey's kids are inaccurate.

Please don't spread it. In these sensitive times, folks (especially celebs/artists) should double verify the source before posting something.

— Navjosh (@Navjosh) April 4, 2019

MEDIA: Reports of looting are inaccurate & unnecessarily put our community on edge. Please refrain from erroneous reporting at this time.

— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) September 10, 2017

Try using inaccurate!

Is inaccurate used correctly in the following sentence?

The speaker claimed that the sun rises in the west, which is inaccurate.

How to use inaccurate in a sentence

I have it on right now and it suggests the tone of this post is “concerned,” which isn’t totally inaccurate.
Amazon’s new fitness tracker listens to your voice to figure out your mood|Stan Horaczek|September 2, 2020|Popular-Science
Eitan Hersh, a professor at Tufts who testified to Congress after the Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2016, believes the data—particularly the modeled attributes—is inaccurate to the point of hindering its usefulness for campaigns.
Explainer: What do political databases know about you?|Tate Ryan-Mosley|August 31, 2020|MIT Technology Review
However, because protecting the Ethics process is an imperative for the Party I can say that it would be inaccurate to say that the complaint is closed or that no action was taken.
Barrios Makes Dubious Claims on Investigations Into His Spending|Jesse Marx|August 25, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Both the hardware and software need to be improved over time to reduce inaccurate predictions, and Steindorfer argues that the whole system needs to be thought of as a continued work in progress.
How to cast a wider net for tracking space junk|Neel Patel|August 5, 2020|MIT Technology Review

You can imagine why it’s important to identify the difference between accurate and inaccurate statistical discrimination.
Does Hollywood Still Have a Princess Problem? (Ep. 394)|Stephen J. Dubner|October 24, 2019|Freakonomics
It would be inaccurate though to call SIX a direct antidote to ALEC.
The Left’s Answer to ALEC|Ben Jacobs|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“The Commission did not instruct Mr. Wright to approve inaccurate wellbore completion reports,” according to the letter.
Two Texas Regulators Tried to Enforce the Rules. They Were Fired.|David Hasemyer, InsideClimate News|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yes, 2014 was a big Republican win, but this idea that Obama showed exceptional weakness in the midterms is simply inaccurate.
Obama: Lamest Duck Ever?|Jonathan Alter|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Others have found its portrayal of Southern life offensive, exploitative, or inaccurate.
The Shocking Rise and Fall of ‘Honey Boo Boo’|Kevin Fallon|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She slammed the media, saying the coverage has been scant and inaccurate.
Defying Stereotypes, Young Muslim Writers Find Community Onstage|Julianne Chiaet|October 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His works were popular for a time, until they were discovered to be very inaccurate, and carelessly compiled.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Mr. Haywood is evidently inaccurate in writing evristic, which is wrong in Greek as well as in German and English.
Notes and Queries, Number 178, March 26, 1853|Various
The history of the late session was known to the Spaniards principally by inaccurate reports brought by Irish friars.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
Zoe never had a brother, so the relationship, at all events, is inaccurate.
The Sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald The Tyrant (Harald Haardraade)|Snorri Sturluson
Williams had shown himself to be an inaccurate conveyancer in the drafting of the original deed.
A short history of Rhode Island|George Washington Greene

British Dictionary definitions for inaccurate

inaccurate

/ (ɪnˈækjʊrɪt) /

adjective

not accurate; imprecise, inexact, or erroneous

Derived forms of inaccurate

inaccurately, adverbinaccurateness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

inaccurate

OTHER WORDS FOR inaccurate

Origin of inaccurate

OTHER WORDS FROM inaccurate

Words nearby inaccurate

MORE ABOUT INACCURATE

What does inaccurate mean?

Where does inaccurate come from?

Did you know … ?

How is inaccurate used in real life?

Try using inaccurate!

Words related to inaccurate

How to use inaccurate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inaccurate

Derived forms of inaccurate