misconnect

verb

mis·​con·​nect ˌmis-kə-ˈnekt 

misconnected; misconnecting

transitive + intransitive

: to connect (something) in a wrong or improper way

Spark plug wires should be replaced one at a time between the distributor cap or ignition coils and the spark plugs to avoid misconnecting the wires. If you misconnect the wires, the engine will not run.

—Ronald G. Haefner

two people who sometimes misconnect

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above