misinterpretation
noun
mis·in·ter·pre·ta·tion
ˌmi-sᵊn-ˌtər-prə-ˈtā-shən 
-pə-
plural misinterpretations
: failure to understand or interpret something correctly
an error caused by misinterpretation of the rules
: a mistaken interpretation
… it soon becomes obvious to workers in the field that misunderstandings and misinterpretations of conventional terms seriously interfere with scholarly communication.—
Juergan Eichhoff
Juergan EichhoffExamples of misinterpretation in a Sentence
his misinterpretation of the ambiguously worded instructions was hardly his fault
Recent Examples on the Web
This can help minimize confusion and misinterpretations of policies, leading to better collaboration and productivity.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
There are still plenty of questions on what led to Wednesday night’s deadly mid-air collision between a passenger plane and an Army helicopter, but pilots who spoke to USA TODAY say a misinterpretation between the helicopter and air traffic control and limited visibility may have played roles.
—Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025
These two species have distinct and often contrasting body language cues, which can lead to misinterpretation.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
Nowadays, especially for weddings, hosts will even send out visual examples or moodboards to mitigate any misinterpretations.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misinterpretation
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Expert Panel®, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
There are still plenty of questions on what led to Wednesday night’s deadly mid-air collision between a passenger plane and an Army helicopter, but pilots who spoke to USA TODAY say a misinterpretation between the helicopter and air traffic control and limited visibility may have played roles.
—Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025
These two species have distinct and often contrasting body language cues, which can lead to misinterpretation.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
Nowadays, especially for weddings, hosts will even send out visual examples or moodboards to mitigate any misinterpretations.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misinterpretation
Cite this Entry
“Misinterpretation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misinterpretation. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
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