misallocation

noun

mis·​al·​lo·​ca·​tion ˌmis-ˌa-lə-ˈkā-shən 

plural misallocations

: the act or an instance of misallocating something (such as money or resources) : poor or improper allocation

misallocation of tax dollars

And there are many who would say that any interference with a free market system … inevitably results in misallocations of resources just because planners cannot be omniscient.

—R. Weiss et al.

Examples of misallocation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to the misallocation of equipment, Toft said this switch in port strategy could create congestion at some ports, which would impact the supply chain. —Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2025

Eliminating government’s component from the measure would do nothing to resolve the problem of private sector misallocation. —James Broughel, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025

This misallocation of resources results in productive inefficiency and a deadweight loss — a reduction in overall economic welfare that benefits neither producers nor consumers. —Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025

Moving away from the capital misallocation and intrusive regulation that comes with carbon-paring would boost growth. —The Editors, National Review, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for misallocation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration