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

Synonyms of misinterpretation

• misunderstanding

Examples of misinterpretation in a Sentence

his misinterpretation of the ambiguously worded instructions was hardly his fault

Recent Examples on the Web

When the mind of a bilingual child mirrors absurd translations, their poetic misinterpretations can accidentally produce multiple meanings — and create puns. —Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 15 Dec. 2025

That misinterpretation is common. —Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 11 Dec. 2025

Wachowski said she’s unbothered by conservative misinterpretations and knows how to separate herself from her films once they’re released to the public. —Jack Dunn, Variety, 30 Nov. 2025

More than 25 years after The Matrix, Lilly Wachowski is not surprised by the right-wing misinterpretation of her and sister Lana Wachowski’s magnum opus. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 29 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for misinterpretation

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization