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

State officials released a statement on Friday addressing misinformation being circulated about the case, centered on a website for the investigation task force being deactivated. —Katie Langford, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026

One thing people saw during the 2016 election and afterwards was the power of digital misinformation as kind of a political and a state tool. —Ben Smith, semafor.com, 20 Feb. 2026

Her dismissal triggered the resignations of four senior CDC officials, including Houry and Jernigan, who cited anti-vaccine policies and misinformation pushed by Kennedy. —USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026

Vaishnaw outlined a fourfold strategy that includes implementable global frameworks, trusted AI infrastructure, regulation of harmful misinformation and stronger human and technical capacity to hedge the impact. —ABC News, 17 Feb. 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