misinformation

noun

mis·​in·​for·​ma·​tion ˌmis-ˌin-fər-ˈmā-shən 

: incorrect or misleading information

Indubitably, a great deal of paranoid and otherwise irresponsible misinformation about the Kennedy assassination has traveled far and sold well …

—Ronnie Dugger

A muddle of misinformation keeps clouding the debate over hormone-replacement therapy for women.

—Melinda Beck

Each of these pieces of information (and misinformation) about me is sold for about two-fifths of a cent to advertisers, which then deliver me an Internet ad, send me a catalog or mail me a credit-card offer.

—Joel Stein

Examples of misinformation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In this eight part documentary series, co-hosts John Biewen and Chenjerai Kumanyika explore the roots of today’s ongoing media crisis – the splintering of news audiences, the widespread perception of bias, and the deluge of misinformation – by delving through stories from the past and the present. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026

There is a lot of misinformation circulating, especially on social media. —Bruce Staley, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026

Researchers at the Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center evaluated how AI chatbots handle scientific misinformation through a series of questions about cancer, vaccines, stem cells, nutrition and athletic performance. —Kaan Ozcan, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026

At the same time, however, misinformation demonized everything from vaccine science to the actual impact of masking to public health workers. —Penelope Gatlin, STAT, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for misinformation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration