misidentification
noun
mis·iden·ti·fi·ca·tion
ˌmis-ī-ˌden-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən 
ˌmis-ə-
plural misidentifications
: incorrect or false identification
The long-term nature of a life insurance policy sometimes accounts for a misidentification of the insured.—
Harriett E. Jones et al.
Harriett E. Jones et al.In the finished novel, the central character insists on calling his girlfriend June, though her name is Joan—one of many obsessional misidentifications in [Henry] Green's fiction.—Jeremy Treglown
Jeremy TreglownExamples of misidentification in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Following a misidentification by the forces, the forces targeted the three WCK vehicles based on the misclassification of the event and misidentification of the vehicles as having Hamas operatives inside them.
—NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
Pondicherry sharks are nearly identical to juvenile bull sharks, leading to frequent misidentification.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024
Target has pulled an item celebrating Black history from its shelves over the misidentification of several Black icons.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2024
Such inconsistencies encourage smuggling, accidental or deliberate misidentification of artifacts, and constantly rising prices.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 18 Mar. 2024
However, experts say that its use for serious felony charges could set a dangerous precedent for the U.S. justice system, raising questions about bias, misidentification, and the rise of the surveillance state.
—IEEE Spectrum, 5 Jan. 2024
Backed by the Conservative government, police forces across England and Wales are being told to rapidly expand their use of the highly controversial technology, which globally has led to false arrests, misidentifications, and lives derailed.
—WIRED, 9 Nov. 2023
The group says eyewitness misidentification is the leading contributing factor of wrongful convictions and has contributed to 64% of the Innocence Project's 245 exonerations and releases.
—CBS News, 11 Oct. 2023
Enlarge / Black bears will frequently stand on their hind legs, which may increase their misidentification.
—Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 19 Jan. 2024
NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
Pondicherry sharks are nearly identical to juvenile bull sharks, leading to frequent misidentification.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024
Target has pulled an item celebrating Black history from its shelves over the misidentification of several Black icons.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2024
Such inconsistencies encourage smuggling, accidental or deliberate misidentification of artifacts, and constantly rising prices.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 18 Mar. 2024
However, experts say that its use for serious felony charges could set a dangerous precedent for the U.S. justice system, raising questions about bias, misidentification, and the rise of the surveillance state.
—IEEE Spectrum, 5 Jan. 2024
Backed by the Conservative government, police forces across England and Wales are being told to rapidly expand their use of the highly controversial technology, which globally has led to false arrests, misidentifications, and lives derailed.
—WIRED, 9 Nov. 2023
The group says eyewitness misidentification is the leading contributing factor of wrongful convictions and has contributed to 64% of the Innocence Project's 245 exonerations and releases.
—CBS News, 11 Oct. 2023
Enlarge / Black bears will frequently stand on their hind legs, which may increase their misidentification.
—Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 19 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'misidentification.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near misidentification
Cite this Entry
“Misidentification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misidentification. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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