misallocation

noun

mis·​al·​lo·​ca·​tion ˌmis-ˌa-lə-ˈkā-shən 

plural misallocations

: the act or an instance of misallocating something (such as money or resources) : poor or improper allocation

misallocation of tax dollars

And there are many who would say that any interference with a free market system … inevitably results in misallocations of resources just because planners cannot be omniscient.

—R. Weiss et al.

Examples of misallocation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There is some irony, then, in the fact that the series’ greatest flaw might be misallocation of this precious resource. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2026

In Florida, where only 57% of third-graders can read at grade level, that misallocation is hard to defend. — Jacob Crainic, Sun Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026

The consequence, in his telling, is not stability but permanent misallocation. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 July 2026

Conflating the two leads to misinterpretation of trends and misallocation of resources. — Jennifer E. O'Brien, The Conversation, 1 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for misallocation

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