misinterpretation

noun

mis·​in·​ter·​pre·​ta·​tion ˌmi-sᵊn-ˌtər-prə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce misinterpretation (audio)
-pə-
plural misinterpretations
: failure to understand or interpret something correctly
an error caused by misinterpretation of the rules
: a mistaken interpretation
… it soon becomes obvious to workers in the field that misunderstandings and misinterpretations of conventional terms seriously interfere with scholarly communication.Juergan Eichhoff

Examples of misinterpretation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This standardization mitigates the risk of errors, discrepancies and misinterpretations in the transmission of critical financial data, ultimately contributing to a more reliable and secure digital payments ecosystem. Rob Heidenreich, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 Jewel cites how the Strong Black Woman stereotype and general societal projection have robbed Black women of opportunities to outwardly express deep feelings without misinterpretation. Essence, 13 Feb. 2024 These researchers have also cautioned that misinterpretation of GWASs by scientists, the media and the public can cause harm. Lauren Leffer, Scientific American, 6 Feb. 2024 The problem is the misinterpretation on the flip side. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 25 Jan. 2024 Delays in implementation have been caused by early misinterpretation of the law, computer glitches and a shortage of halfway house capacity. Walter Pavlo, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 The possibility of misinterpretation—or plausible deniability—might be part of the appeal of using emoji at work. Lora Kelley, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2023 This approach separates customers from the analysis, thereby avoiding misinterpretations. Christian Stadler, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023 These few sentences contain drastic misinterpretations of the world Tolkien created, specifically about the natures of elves and men, the differences between them, and the consequences of trying to overcome these natures. Jack Butler, National Review, 31 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'misinterpretation.' 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

1538, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of misinterpretation was in 1538

Dictionary Entries Near misinterpretation

Cite this Entry

“Misinterpretation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misinterpretation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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