misalignment

noun

mis·​align·​ment ˌmis-ə-ˈlīn-mənt 

plural misalignments

: the condition of being out of correct position or improperly adjusted : bad or incorrect alignment

Over time, because of damage and wear, typewriters develop faults and misalignments that render their typescript unique.

—Laney Salisbury et al.

… overuse injuries are all too often the consequence of poor technique or misalignment of body parts.

—Jane E. Brody

Examples of misalignment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Reid, whose first novel probed the sometimes sticky relationship between a nanny and a mother, masterfully captures the quiet misalignments that stem from a varying sense of what’s at stake. —Chloe Schama, Vogue, 18 July 2024

American electoral politics, and misalignment over any number of thorny challenges, could easily knock the new prime minister off course. —Garret Martin, The Conversation, 5 July 2024

In terms of location, where does misalignment tend to proliferate? —Nerdwallet, The Mercury News, 1 July 2024

The misalignment could cause shoulder and neck pain and stiffness. —Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 1 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above