miscalculation

noun

mis·​cal·​cu·​la·​tion ˌmis-ˌkal-kyə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce miscalculation (audio)
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

Examples of miscalculation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Analysts have cautioned that while both sides probably want to avoid open war, any miscalculation could spill over and lead to a broader regional escalation. Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024 Yet the risk of American miscalculations and overconfidence will creep up over time. Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024 Neither Israel nor Iran wants a direct military conflict with the other, most experts agree, but the scope for miscalculation and escalation is substantial. Alexander Smith, NBC News, 7 Apr. 2024 The miscalculations began in 2022, when Fremont started receiving unusually high quarterly sales tax allocations from a California tax agency. Will McCarthy, The Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2024 This miscalculation arises as revenue is contingent on maintaining a certain level of status quo, which is typically disrupted following the acquisition. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 According to Scott Hubbard, former director of NASA’s Ames Research Center, who served as the agency’s inaugural Mars exploration program director from 2000 to 2001, there’s an easy explanation for MSR’s programmatic miscalculations. Leonard David, Scientific American, 11 Jan. 2024 For months, though, there have been warnings that the region is one miscalculation away from calamity. Shane Harris, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024 This particular problem is a miscalculation that affects students who report having personal assets. Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'miscalculation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of miscalculation was in 1653

Dictionary Entries Near miscalculation

Cite this Entry

“Miscalculation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miscalculation. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

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