misinterpretation
noun
mis·in·ter·pre·ta·tion
ˌmi-sᵊn-ˌtər-prə-ˈtā-shən 
-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
Juergan EichhoffSynonyms
Examples of misinterpretation in a Sentence
his misinterpretation of the ambiguously worded instructions was hardly his fault
Recent Examples on the Web
Hyundai blamed the inflated mileage on honest misinterpretation of the EPA’s complex rules governing testing.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 July 2024
TikTok is awash in warnings that young men in the U.S. could soon be drafted into military service and panicked reactions to that prospect — but all of it is predicated on a misinterpretation of a bill currently making its way through Congress.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2024
Read more: Post wrongly compares firearm offenses of Hunter Biden and Kodak Black
Claim: Hunter Biden paid Joe Biden $50,000 a month in rent for home with classified documents
Our rating: False
The claim stems from a misinterpretation of a form Hunter Biden signed in 2018.
—Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY, 11 June 2024
But these early flubs, which Google chalked up to misinterpretations or a lack of data, have so far overshadowed another possible drawback: the financial and environmental cost of AI search.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 11 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for misinterpretation 
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 July 2024
TikTok is awash in warnings that young men in the U.S. could soon be drafted into military service and panicked reactions to that prospect — but all of it is predicated on a misinterpretation of a bill currently making its way through Congress.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2024
Read more: Post wrongly compares firearm offenses of Hunter Biden and Kodak Black
Claim: Hunter Biden paid Joe Biden $50,000 a month in rent for home with classified documents
Our rating: False
The claim stems from a misinterpretation of a form Hunter Biden signed in 2018.
—Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY, 11 June 2024
But these early flubs, which Google chalked up to misinterpretations or a lack of data, have so far overshadowed another possible drawback: the financial and environmental cost of AI search.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 11 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for misinterpretation
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.
Dictionary Entries Near misinterpretation
Cite this Entry
“Misinterpretation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misinterpretation. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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