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

According to Curion Insights, between 70 and 80 percent of beauty launches fail within 18 months; this is often due to misalignment between demand, product and channel strategy. —Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 13 Apr. 2026

Tiny imperfections, including surface roughness, slight misalignments, and stray electrical charges, can destabilize the trap. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 11 Apr. 2026

If the major problem was a misalignment of how the pilot was directed, why couldn’t it be fixed with reshoots? —Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 8 Apr. 2026

While star trackers mounted on Orion indicate where the vehicle is pointing, potential misalignments between the star trackers and the communications terminal can only be fully measured and corrected once in space. —Adam Bluestein, Scientific American, 5 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for misalignment

• nonalignment
• realignment
• reassignment
• reconsignment
• alignment
• alinement
• assignment
• confinement
• consignment
• refinement