# astray

> English word · Adverb · IPA /əˈstɹeɪ/ · frequency rank #24,383

## Definitions
1. Away from the proper path; in a wrong or unknown direction.
2. Away from what is right and good; into error or evil.

## Etymology
From Middle English astraien or by apheresis straien, from Old French estraier (“to stray”), from late Medieval Latin extravagari (“to wander beyond”), from Latin extra (“beyond”) + vagārī (“to wander, stray”).

## Easily confused with
- **Astros** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/astray-vs-astros)
- **Astrid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/astray-vs-astrid)
- **Asta** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asta-vs-astray)
- **array** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/array-vs-astray)
- **assay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/assay-vs-astray)
- **astral** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/astral-vs-astray)
- **Amtrak** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/amtrak-vs-astray)
- **ashram** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ashram-vs-astray)
- **Astley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/astley-vs-astray)
- **ashtray** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ashtray-vs-astray)

## Common misspellings (9)
`asrtay`, `asstray`, `astary`, `astrayy`, `astrray`, `astrya`, `asttray`, `atsray`, `satray`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/astray