misinterpret

[mis-in-tur-prit]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to interpret, explain, or understand incorrectly.

misinterpret

/ ˌmɪsɪnˈtɜːprɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to interpret badly, misleadingly, or incorrectly

Other Word Forms

• misinterpretable adjective
• misinterpretation noun
• misinterpreter noun
• unmisinterpretable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of misinterpret¹

First recorded in 1580–90; mis- ¹ + interpret

Example Sentences

Ms Hastings said people often misinterpreted the actions of people with Tourette's and thought they were "aggressive or a monster", so to see a positive representation on the big screen felt "helpful".

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Hours after the Journal’s report went viral, the New York Times cited an unnamed senior law enforcement official who said the report may have been “misread or misinterpreted.”

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“Israel has misinterpreted the willingness of Gulf countries to normalize relations with it as an acknowledgment of its dominance in the region,” Farouq said.

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But the commissioner said the "complainant misinterpreted the WhatsApp messages as an instruction to conspire with the member to submit fraudulent claims".

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He accused the company of "unilaterally, regularly, and conveniently" misinterpreting the union's terms and conditions, but said the union was "open to any dialogue to resolve this situation".

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Related Words

• distort 
• err 
• falsify 
• garble 
• miscalculate 
• misread 
• misrepresent 
• misunderstand