a case of mistaken identity

noun phrase

: a situation due to being mistaken for someone else
Her arrest was a case of mistaken identity.

Examples of a case of mistaken identity in a Sentence

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 is not a case of mistaken identity in which defendant attacked the wrong brother. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2026 Pat Brisson, Hughes’ agent, confirmed to Forbes on Friday that the mix-up was a case of mistaken identity. — Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 27 Feb. 2026 The Giants wide receiver was allowed to leave after it was determined to be a case of mistaken identity, according to the report. — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026 Attorney Brock Hunter said Lewis, his client, was wrongly swept up in this situation and that this was a case of mistaken identity. — Ubah Ali, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for a case of mistaken identity

Rhymes for a case of mistaken identity

See All Rhymes for a case of mistaken identity

Browse Nearby Words

acarus
a case of mistaken identity
acatalectic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“A case of mistaken identity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20case%20of%20mistaken%20identity. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All