misapply

verb

mis·​ap·​ply ˌmis-ə-ˈplī 

misapplied; misapplying

transitive verb

1

: to apply incorrectly or improperly

They recognized deer, bears, and wolves and misapplied European names to buffalo and robins, but strange animals, plants, geography, and weather needed new words.

—Jack Weatherford

2

: to use or spend (something, such as public money) without proper authority

He also was convicted of misapplying government funds.

—Suzanne Russell

Synonyms of misapply

• misuse
• abuse

Examples of misapply in a Sentence

you've misapplied the theorem to certain problems that require a different formula

kids who misapply their boundless energy and get into trouble

Recent Examples on the Web

But when integrity is neglected or misapplied, that same structure can become unstable, or even dangerous. — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

Duchampian is one of those descriptors that’s both extremely specific and meaningless when misapplied to everything. — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 24 Apr. 2026

Denials based on unwritten or misapplied rules or standards, or perhaps on subjective personal preferences, would be on unsound standing. — Nicole R. Kurtz, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026

Not only were the rules misapplied, according to an expert referee with years of elite experience, but similar plays during this tournament have been ignored. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1571, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for misapply

• abscissae
• adonai
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi

Kids Definition

misapply

verb

mis·​ap·​ply

ˌmis-ə-ˈplī

: to apply wrongly

misapplication

ˌmis-ˌap-lə-ˈkā-shən

noun

Legal Definition

misapply

transitive verb

mis·​ap·​ply

ˌmi-sə-ˈplī

misapplied; misapplying

: to misuse or spend (as public money) without proper authority

specifically : to willfully and unlawfully convert (bank funds) for the use, benefit, or gain of oneself or a third party especially through one's position as a bank employee or officer

misapplication

ˌmi-ˌsa-plə-ˈkā-shən

noun