misspent

American

[mis-spent] / mɪsˈspɛnt /

verb

simple past tense and past participle of misspend.

adjective

spent wrongly or unwisely; wasted.

misspent youth.

Etymology

Origin of misspent

First recorded in 1425–75, for the adjective

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.

The workers’ coordinated front is going up against a school district facing leadership turmoil and suspicion of misspent funds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

She plans out every part of the trip to avoid even one misspent moment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

It believes that much of that funding has been misspent.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2025

Other issues to arise in this contest have included the role of school police on campus and allegations that the district misspent voter-approved funding to increase arts instruction, questions that the candidates have addressed below.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2024

“This can’t be the first time an unauthorized person misspent money.”

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023