misinterpretation

noun

mis·​in·​ter·​pre·​ta·​tion ˌmi-sᵊn-ˌtər-prə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce misinterpretation (audio)
-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

Examples of misinterpretation in a Sentence

his misinterpretation of the ambiguously worded instructions was hardly his fault
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of misinterpretation was in 1538

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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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