misdirection

[ mis-di-rek-shuhn ]

noun
  1. a wrong or incorrect direction, guidance, or instruction:Unfortunately, his advice on the matter was a misdirection acted upon by numerous state leaders.

  2. the use of misleading appearances or distraction to prevent detection of one’s true intent, as in a sports play, magic trick, plot twist, or wrongdoing; feint: The film begins with a masterful bit of misdirection, which sets up our expectations only to have them upended by a surprising twist.The media’s unveiling of a scandal at this precise moment is clearly misdirection, which serves both them and the White House well.

  1. Law. an erroneous charge to the jury by a judge.

Origin of misdirection

1
First recorded in 1760–70; mis-1 + direction

Words Nearby misdirection

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use misdirection in a sentence