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

Synonyms

• misunderstanding

Examples of misinterpretation in a Sentence

his misinterpretation of the ambiguously worded instructions was hardly his fault

Recent Examples on the Web

Many women who have endured violence within Christian homes wish the church understood that silence, misinterpretation of Scripture, and misplaced calls for forgiveness can deepen trauma. —Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025

Technocrats once relied on quiet back channels to clarify intent, but now messages move through media, and often conflicting social posts, where misinterpretation thrives. —Lizzi C. Lee, Time, 17 Oct. 2025

Watch out for misinterpretations of emotions and feelings of inadequacy. —Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 14 Oct. 2025

McGregor recognizes that the work of translating between Western science and TEK is critical in certain contexts and applications, while there has also been significant cooption and misinterpretation. —JSTOR Daily, 11 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for misinterpretation

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization