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

The issue was not his skills, but a misalignment in motivation. —Pankaj Vasani, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025

For policymakers, evaluation frameworks like ours offer a way to measure misalignment in systems that are in use and create standards for alignment. —Aidan Kierans, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025

What is clear is that amid rising tensions between the United States and a variety of antagonists, there is a critical misalignment in defense planning. —Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2025

Keeping AGIs in virtual sandboxes with strict security and direct human oversight could help mitigate issues arising from misalignment. —Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for misalignment

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