misapprehension
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of misapprehension
First recorded in 1620–30; mis- 1 + apprehension
Explanation
When you have a misapprehension, you make a mistake trying to understand something, which leads you to believe something that isn't true. You may have a misapprehension about your brother's motives for being so nice to you this week. You may have an uncle who is famous for his misapprehension of luck and probability, which must be why he’s lost so much money gambling. He also has a misapprehension of geography, so he thinks he can get from his house in Maryland to your house in New Hampshire in under four hours — by bus! No one ever said your uncle was stupid — he just has a misapprehension of some basic things that the rest of the family gets.
Vocabulary lists containing misapprehension
myPerspectives 6.4
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"Called Out" by Barbara Kingsolver
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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.
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: the anxiety of Americans about electric cars running out of juice is often based on a misapprehension of how much driving they typically do.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
He added: "They may be labouring under a misapprehension because in England, they wouldn't need planning permission to use any barracks for 12 months."
From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026
Identification of a tonsil-like organ in fish also helps correct a misapprehension about their immune system, Dishaw says.
From Science Magazine • Oct. 31, 2023
“They have lawyers, advisors, and they will be under no misapprehension after their obligations,” he said, adding that these obligations apply to Palestinian militant group Hamas as well.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 29, 2023
A shame no one set me right on this common misapprehension, really.
From "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Author
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.
