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 EichhoffExamples of misinterpretation in a Sentence
his misinterpretation of the ambiguously worded instructions was hardly his fault
Recent Examples on the Web
Families have seen how silence can lead to misinterpretation, resentment among siblings or prolonged disputes.
—Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 14 Mar. 2026
The danger is not simply misinterpretation.
—Yusuf Tuggar, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Simple things that are so straightforward there’s no room for misinterpretation.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Feb. 2026
Yet Waltz finds that behavior to be a misinterpretation of Strasberg’s teachings.
—William Earl, Variety, 6 Feb. 2026
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Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 14 Mar. 2026
The danger is not simply misinterpretation.
—Yusuf Tuggar, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Simple things that are so straightforward there’s no room for misinterpretation.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Feb. 2026
Yet Waltz finds that behavior to be a misinterpretation of Strasberg’s teachings.
—William Earl, Variety, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misinterpretation
Cite this Entry
“Misinterpretation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misinterpretation. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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