miscalculation

noun

mis·​cal·​cu·​la·​tion ˌmis-ˌkal-kyə-ˈlā-shən 

plural miscalculations

: a mistake in calculation : wrong calculation

a costly miscalculation

… ruled that utility shareholders, not electricity consumers, must pay for some or all of the miscalculations that resulted in excessive expansion or cost overruns.

—Peter Nulty

Synonyms of miscalculation

• mistake

Examples of miscalculation in a Sentence

treating her opponent as an intellectual lightweight was a serious miscalculation on her part

Recent Examples on the Web

But that miscalculation was, itself, premised on the unexamined assumption that a K-12 public education should be essentially vocational and therefore—almost by definition—aligned with corporate interests. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2026

Open communication strengthens deterrence, prevents adversary miscalculation, and normalizes space operations alongside the other services. — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

This raises the risk of miscalculations, depending on what kind of twists and turns your life takes. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 14 Sep. 2026

His costly miscalculation exploded into a life-and-death war fiasco that an incompetent and dishonest administration is now incapable of ending. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for miscalculation

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