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Synonyms

misidentify

American  
[mis-ahy-den-tuh-fahy, -i-den-] / ˌmɪs aɪˈdɛn təˌfaɪ, -ɪˈdɛn- /

verb (used with object)

misidentified, misidentifying
  1. to identify incorrectly.


Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of misidentify

First recorded in 1890–95; mis- 1 + identify


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:

To talk about the high cost of housing, however, is to misidentify the problem.

From Slate ● Nov. 4, 2025

"We've found that many respondents misidentify a warning as a watch, which means conditions are favorable for a tornado," Armstrong said.

From Science Daily ● May 9, 2024

GAO said it took pains not to misidentify fraud and, if anything, erred on the side of caution, perhaps missing actual fraud.

From Washington Times ● Sep. 12, 2023

Doa, the former EPA scientist who worked at the agency for three decades, said she had never known the EPA to misidentify a source of pollution in a consent order.

From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2023

Plus, many people misidentify butterflies, notes Sarabia, so a guide can help you safely spot them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 26, 2023

In fact, an entire genus of vertebrate hid there, misidentified, until a CT scanner settled the question.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026

After a deluge of hateful messages, another man misidentified as Winston Lee posted a personal appeal to TikTok detectives.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

The lawsuit claims that the city rushed the process and misidentified a number of longtime New Yorkers as a result, putting “homeowners in an untenable position in the dead of summer.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

While misidentified aircraft, atmospheric phenomena or even advanced military technology account for many sightings, others remain stubbornly unexplained.

From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026

Then, in the 1980s, local divers stumbled upon it but misidentified it as a Dutch merchant ship.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler

The research suggests that the brain may be misidentifying internally generated thoughts as sounds coming from the outside world.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 23, 2026

“Silver prices fluctuate, but misidentifying items can cost far more than waiting for a slightly better spot price.”

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 31, 2025

Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok churned out misinformation about Australia's Bondi Beach mass shooting, misidentifying a key figure who saved lives and falsely claiming that a victim staged his injuries, researchers said Tuesday.

From Barron's ● Dec. 16, 2025

Couples with "baskets of bottled beer and blankets", children wildly misidentifying pigeons and press photographers resignedly legging it around the grass in an attempt to get their shot all added to the chaos.

From BBC ● Mar. 2, 2025

According to the AP report, in a 2005 oral history for AP’s corporate archives Robinson made no mention of misidentifying the photo and gave no indication of uncertainty whether Ut took the photo.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2025

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