wrong 'un
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A dishonest or disreputable person; a crook or rogue.
Register: derogatory, slang
Examples
We might not have had that much to pinch, but they'd still have your brass candlesticks off the mantelpiece. There's always wrong 'uns, in every walk of life, who'll have whatever you've got from under your nose.
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 “wrong 'un” mean?
A dishonest or disreputable person; a crook or rogue.
Is “wrong 'un” formal or informal?
wrong 'un is generally derogatory, slang.