erroneous accusation

Mistaken blame assignment

An erroneous accusation is a charge or claim of wrongdoing that turns out to be mistaken or false.

The phrase emphasizes factual incorrectness rather than deliberate deception—the accuser may have genuinely believed the charge: The erroneous accusation cost him his job, though he was later cleared.

Compare with false accusation, which may imply intent to deceive.

Related

mud slinging · wrongful · blame · innocent · framed · rush to judgment · witch hunt · crying wolf · scapegoat · smear · mistaken · unjust · malicious · vindictive · lie · fabrication · perjury · wrongful arrest

Opposites
justice and fairness

erroneous accusationdue process

Guaranteed judicial fairness

speech act valence

erroneous accusationvindication

Clearance of blame

exoneration · acquittal · absolution · exculpation · clearance

Family

erroneous, accusation, errors, errant, errata, erratum, erroneously, accuse, accused

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG