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

Although Turkish officials have stopped short of declaring the incidents deliberate attacks, each interception raises the risk of escalation, whether through miscalculation, technical failure, or misinterpretation of intent. —Steve Mollman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026

Keith Poliakoff, attorney for the developer, says his client will appeal the ruling and also request that the lower court rehear the case due to what Poliakoff called a misinterpretation of the Live Local Act. —Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026

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

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