misinformation

noun

mis·​in·​for·​ma·​tion ˌmis-ˌin-fər-ˈmā-shən 

: incorrect or misleading information

Indubitably, a great deal of paranoid and otherwise irresponsible misinformation about the Kennedy assassination has traveled far and sold well …

—Ronnie Dugger

A muddle of misinformation keeps clouding the debate over hormone-replacement therapy for women.

—Melinda Beck

Each of these pieces of information (and misinformation) about me is sold for about two-fifths of a cent to advertisers, which then deliver me an Internet ad, send me a catalog or mail me a credit-card offer.

—Joel Stein

Examples of misinformation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pretoria has repeatedly denied the discrimination claims, calling them misinformation. — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Most parents cannot fully appreciate the risks associated with vaccine-preventable diseases, McNally said, with medical misinformation widely available online setting a foundation for a worsening trend. — CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

His platform has also been used to promote fear and misinformation, even to fuel violence that could destabilize sitting governments. — Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026

This was right in the peak of Elon Musk’s reconstruction of Twitter, privileging rage bait and engagement tactics that helped misinformation disseminate like fact. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for misinformation

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