- present participle of misunderstand.
misunderstanding
Americannoun
-
misunderstandings
plural
-
failure to understand correctly; mistake as to meaning or intent.
- Synonyms:
- misconception, error, misapprehension
-
a disagreement or quarrel.
- Synonyms:
- dissension, difficulty, difference, discord
- Antonyms:
- concord
noun
-
a failure to understand properly
-
a disagreement
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of misunderstanding
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; mis- 1 + understanding
Explanation
A misunderstanding is what happens when you don't comprehend something correctly. It's also another name for a disagreement, like the misunderstanding you and your sister had about whose turn it was to do the dishes. The result of not clearly understanding someone or something is a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding between teammates can lead to dropped passes and lost points, and a misunderstanding of the pool rules can get you benched for doing a cannonball in the shallow end. You can also call a minor argument a misunderstanding.
Vocabulary lists containing misunderstanding
myPerspectives 8.3
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Words with 15 or More Letters, List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
She adds that even when parents have "practical reasons" for treating their children differently, failing to communicate these clearly can "leave room for misunderstanding and resentment".
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
According to the researchers, the controversy sparked by the findings reported last November was caused by a misunderstanding in the analysis rather than evidence that scientists' basic picture of the universe had suddenly broken down.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026
One misunderstanding of a variable interest rate or a cosigner’s responsibilities can blow up decades of financial planning.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026
Or did Walker turn a misunderstanding at the gate into a viral story?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
“You are purposely misunderstanding me, ma reine. Are you in love with Robert?”
From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin
"Sometimes people go missing without those close to them realising, through holidays being planned or simple misunderstandings, and so we may not have received a report of any concerns."
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
Yang: The misunderstandings are about people’s tones, and not necessarily about the things that people are pointing toward.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
But there are insights about his perception of—and plans for—America to be gained from examining those misunderstandings.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
In October, Aliyev said that "past misunderstandings between the two countries have been resolved" after meeting Macron in Copenhagen.
From Barron's ● Mar. 16, 2026
This hatred went back to ancient rivalries and misunderstandings over religion and nationality.
From "Surviving Hitler: A Boy in the Nazi Death Camps" by Andrea Warren
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
