errant

/ˈɛrənt/

/ˈɛrɪnt/

Other forms: errantly

Something or someone described as errant has gone astray or done wrong by going in an unexpected direction. An errant bird might end up in northern Canada while his friends fly to southern Mexico for the winter.

Although errant is commonly used as a synonym for "misbehaving" or "naughty," it also refers to things that are just out of place. An errant bomb can hit a house instead of an army base, and an errant lock of hair can get in your eyes. Errant can be intentional, as in "the errant boys skipped school to go to the movies," or unintentional, as in "an errant snowball hit your neighbor instead of your arch enemy."

Definitions of errant

1. adjective

   straying from the right course or from accepted standards
   “errant youngsters”

   synonyms:

   fallible

   likely to fail or make errors
2. adjective

   moving in an uncontrolled, irregular, or unpredictable way
   “an errant breeze”

   synonyms:

   uncontrolled

   not being under control; out of control
3. adjective

   traveling from place to place, especially in search of adventure
   synonyms:

   mobile, nomadic, peregrine, roving, wandering

   migratory