misquotation
noun
mis·quo·ta·tion
ˌmis-kwō-ˈtā-shən 
also -kō-
plural misquotations
: the act or an instance of quoting something or someone incorrectly
In the book, Mr. Sullivan offers 10 common "mechanisms" that he says lead to misquotation and incorrect attribution.—
Niraj Chokshi
: an incorrect quotation
Niraj Chokshi"Play it again, Sam" is a famous misquotation. Bergman's character, Ilsa Lund, tells piano player Sam (Dooley Wilson): "Play it, Sam. Play As Time Goes By."—Jeffrey Sheban
Jeffrey ShebanExamples of misquotation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sixty years later, Tevye’s misquotations muddying the Torah, coupled with his witty megalomania, have reverberated through the halls of American theaters in countless productions.
—Dave Gordon, Sun Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2024
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona’s misquotation (Notable & Quotable, Nov. 29) brings to mind the advice my father gave me.
—WSJ, 3 Dec. 2023
The fact-check flagged a misquotation that should have been rendered as a paraphrase.
—Erik Wemple, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2022
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Dave Gordon, Sun Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2024
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona’s misquotation (Notable & Quotable, Nov. 29) brings to mind the advice my father gave me.
—WSJ, 3 Dec. 2023
The fact-check flagged a misquotation that should have been rendered as a paraphrase.
—Erik Wemple, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Misquotation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misquotation. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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