Legal Definitions - erroneous

Definition: Erroneous means something that is incorrect or wrong. It can also refer to something that is inconsistent with the law or with a given set of facts. When used in a legal context, it is often part of the expression "clearly erroneous," which is the standard of review that appellate courts use for a finding of fact made by a lower court.

• Her answer on the test was erroneous because she misunderstood the question.
• The news article contained several erroneous statements about the company's financial situation.
• The judge found the witness's testimony to be clearly erroneous and therefore disregarded it.

In the first example, the student's answer on the test was incorrect because she didn't understand the question. In the second example, the news article contained incorrect information about the company's finances. In the third example, the judge determined that the witness's testimony was inconsistent with the facts of the case and therefore could not be relied upon.