Phrase guide

wide of the mark

adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈwaɪd əv ðə ˈmɑːk/
  • General-American: /ˈwaɪd əv ðə ˈmɑɹk/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of a projectile: missing the target.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

(Very) inaccurate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Well, I suppose you could say the weatherman was wide of the mark again then!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

not on target

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the kick was wide
  • the arrow was wide of the mark
  • a claim that was wide of the truth

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: wide

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From archery and sports jargon. Sometimes corrupted to wide(ly) off the mark (as in far off the mark, way off base).