misintelligence

noun

mis·​intelligence
"+
1
: a mistaken impression : misunderstanding
a glaring misintelligence of the facts of the case
2
: lack of intelligence
a poor showing that might have been a sign of miseducation rather than misintelligence

Word History

Etymology

in sense 1, probably from French mésintelligence, from Middle French, from més- mis- entry 1 + intelligence; in sense 2, from mis- entry 1 + intelligence

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near misintelligence

Cite this Entry

“Misintelligence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misintelligence. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!