misclassify

verb

mis·​clas·​si·​fy ˌmis-ˈkla-sə-ˌfī How to pronounce misclassify (audio)
misclassified; misclassifying

transitive verb

: to assign (someone or something) to an incorrect group or category : to classify wrongly
a species misclassified in the wrong genus
misclassified adjective
misclassified workers/employees

Examples of misclassify in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To evade customs duties, the actors would use false documents to either undervalue or misclassify the goods, and produce false invoices and transport documents to conceal the real destination of the goods. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019 Likewise, subtle input modifications during inference—also known as adversarial attacks—can completely misclassify results. Neel Sendas, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 One striking example involved modifying just a few pixels in an image of a cat—causing the AI to misclassify it as guacamole. Korok Ray, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025 Sentiment analysis tools may also misclassify technical or neutral language. Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for misclassify

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of misclassify was in 1874

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Cite this Entry

“Misclassify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misclassify. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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