misidentify

[mis-ahy-den-tuh-fahy, -i-den-]

verb (used with object)

misidentified, misidentifying 

1. to identify incorrectly.

Other Word Forms

• misidentification noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of misidentify¹

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

Example Sentences

In that interview, Tate made no mention of a White House official intervening on his behalf and seemingly misidentified state authorities in Florida as responsible for taking his devices.

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Washington did not comment on the claim that they had misidentified the image.

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That theory holds that a body discovered in the late 1940s was misidentified as another woman, when it was actually Follett.

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In a statement, a DHS spokesperson misidentified the police department, describing it as the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, and said local authorities had the man in custody but then set him free.

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Mr Thompson says he is bringing the legal challenge because he is worried about the impact LFR could have on others, particularly if young people are misidentified.

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Related Words

• amaze 
• astonish 
• astound 
• baffle 
• bewilder 
• discombobulate 
• dumbfound 
• embarrass 
• faze 
• mystify 
• perplex 
• puzzle 
• rattle 
• startle 
• surprise