What does erringly mean?
"Erringly" is a rare English adverb formed from the verb "err," meaning to act in a mistaken, incorrect, or wrongful manner. When someone does something erringly, they do it while straying from what is right—whether through honest error, poor judgment, or moral fault. The word inherits both shades of its parent verb: in older religious and moral writing, "erring" carried the weight of sinning or straying from doctrine, while modern usage tends toward the simpler sense of being mistaken. Because it is literary and uncommon, "erringly" lends a slightly formal or archaic flavor to a sentence; contemporary writers usually prefer "mistakenly," "wrongly," or "in error." It belongs to a large word family descended from the Latin verb errare, "to wander or stray," which also gives us "error," "erroneous," "erratic," and "errant." Though rarely encountered, it is transparently understood by anyone familiar with "err."
adverbIn a manner that errs; mistakenly or sinfully. Used to describe an action done wrongly, whether through error or moral fault.
- In a mistaken or wrong manner; while erring.
"Even the most careful editors sometimes judge erringly."
"The witness spoke confidently but testified erringly on several key points."
"He admitted that he had judged his friend erringly and offered a sincere apology."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of erringly
"Erringly" is formed from the verb "err" plus the adverbial suffix "-ing" and "-ly." The verb "err" comes from the Latin errare, meaning "to wander, stray, or go astray," which entered Middle English via Old French "errer" around the fourteenth century. In earlier centuries, "err" frequently carried a moral or theological sense—to stray from truth or righteousness—which is reflected in some uses of "erringly." Cognates and relatives include "error," "erroneous," "errant," and "erratic," all tracing back to the same Latin root idea of wandering off course.
Related word forms
How erringly is actually used
"Erringly" is a rare, somewhat literary adverb. It is understood from its root "err" but appears infrequently in modern usage; writers more often rephrase with "mistakenly" or "in error." It can carry either a neutral sense of simple mistake or an older, moralizing sense of wrongdoing or sinning.