- present participle of misunderstand.
misunderstanding
Americannoun
-
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:
"This story was based on a very basic misunderstanding of accounts and Yes Scotland's financial statements," Jenkins' solicitor Aamer Anwar said.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Isaacman, an experienced aviator who has flown military aircraft for years, described the situation as a misunderstanding about the FAA’s role in an event like the 250th celebration and the aircraft.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
SpaceX’s IPO left Korean broker with no shares after misunderstanding.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
But that clip did eventually come out, in late 2016, after Trump had already won that year’s election, and the depth of Trump’s misunderstanding of the film was striking.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
Through a misunderstanding, some children reported for duty at Genoa, where no slave ships were waiting.
From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut
But there are insights about his perception of—and plans for—America to be gained from examining those misunderstandings.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
The Palantir board recommended shareholders vote down the proposals, arguing they are “predicated on misunderstandings and inaccuracies about Palantir’s work.”
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
But there were misunderstandings about what might be normal in Europe versus what we have to follow in terms of being a U.S. public company.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
Such misunderstandings can leave the caller feeling frustrated and alone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 1, 2026
The things we like about email—its speed and its breezy style—can lead to misunderstandings.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
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.
