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Definition of misinterpretation

misinterpretation

/ˌmɪs.ɪnˌtɝː.prəˈteɪ.ʃən/
mis · in · ter · pre · ta · tion
Plural:misinterpretations
•
Adjective:misinterpretive
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misinterpretation Lexical Profile

• noun

1

The act of forming a wrong understanding of something, or an incorrect explanation of an action, statement, or text.

Example

"The diplomatic dispute arose from a simple misinterpretation of the treaty's original wording."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for misinterpretation

• Rhymes for misinterpretation

• Nearby Words

misinformed
misinformer
misinterpret
misinterpretation
misjudge
misjudgment
mislabel

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in English from the prefix 'mis-' and 'interpretation', which derives from Latin 'interpretatio' (an explanation or translation).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Misinterpretation. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/misinterpretation
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