misattribution
Americannoun
plural
misattributions-
an incorrect attribution, especially in crediting a specific work to the wrong author, artist, etc.
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Psychology. a psychological process in which someone incorrectly identifies the source of a memory or feeling.
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.
This misattribution of mind to machine has deep roots in our psychology.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
That report was widely criticized for misattribution and misstating the conclusions of the studies it cited.
From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026
Manifestation is another misattribution of cause-and-effect, just with a more positive spin: if I got a promotion, it’s because I put a dollar sign on my vision board.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2024
They will be playing whack-a-mole with that misattribution for all future time.
From Slate • Jun. 3, 2022
The forms of ajñâna if they are to be known must be associated with pure consciousness, and this association means an illusion, superimposition, and mutual misattribution.
From A History of Indian Philosophy, Volume 1 by Dasgupta, Surendranath
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.
