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

More than 1450 days later, that timeframe looks hopelessly naïve and has proved to have been a fundamental miscalculation that has taken a devastating toll in pain, destruction and bloodshed. —Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026

So that then when the betrayal happens, the descending to his knees, comes because of that miscalculation. —Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2026

Investigators concluded a chain of miscalculations that began with an inaccurate position estimated by Collins. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026

Walmart, Kentucky Legend respond to weight, price miscalculations At least one of the meat manufacturers, Kentucky Legend, posted a statement on its website admitting an error at a store, but not the one that Wrigg had visited. —Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 6 Feb. 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