misapprehension
Americannoun
noun
Other Word 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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Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - 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.
Misapprehension has it that Billy Budd is about the sea, a briny younger sibling to Britten's Peter Grimes.
From The Guardian • Jun. 23, 2012
Misapprehension, when it exists, is a factor in any circumstances, sometimes of powerful influence.
From From Sail to Steam, Recollections of Naval Life by Mahan, A. T. (Alfred Thayer)
I am Your most humble Servant, Flavia I will not open the Letter which my Cynthio writ, upon the Misapprehension you must have been under when you writ, for want of hearing the whole Circumstance.
From The Spectator, Volume 2. by Addison, Joseph
Misapprehension often produces disastrous consequences to individuals and nations.
From Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution by Judson, L. Carroll
Misapprehension arose in these matters, because the recovery of the fugitive slave was not viewed as a process of extradition.
From Stephen A. Douglas A Study in American Politics by Johnson, Allen
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.
