two wrongs make a right
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A logical informal fallacy whereby a wrongful action is justified by the commission of another.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
“I believe that Texas assaulted democracy and that California is allowed to hit back.” “So sometimes,” [Darshan] Smaaladen concluded, “two wrongs do make a right.”
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “two wrongs make a right” mean?
A logical informal fallacy whereby a wrongful action is justified by the commission of another.
Is “two wrongs make a right” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.