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Synonyms

misrepresentation

American  
[mis-rep-ri-zen-tey-shuhn] / ˌmɪs rɛp rɪˌzɛnˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

  1. the act or state of being represented incorrectly, improperly, falsely, or unsatisfactorily.

    Your degree may be revoked if fraud, misrepresentation, or other violations of university standards are found to have occurred.


Other Word Forms

  • premisrepresentation noun

Etymology

Origin of misrepresentation

mis- 1 ( def. ) + represent ( def. )

Explanation

A misrepresentation is when you misrepresent, or lie about, something that happened. If you say you were the quarter back of the football team but really you were the mascot, that’s a misrepresentation. A misrepresentation is a misstatement of the facts. It’s more than casting a different light on something; it’s deceptive and untrue. It’s a misrepresentation to tell your parents you went to the principal’s office to talk about books if you really got sent there for talking in class. Misrepresentations are deliberately misleading. They’re lies.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing misrepresentation

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.

Such practices “spanned a wide spectrum of projects in what appeared to be a company-wide pattern of financial misrepresentation and misleading disclosures,” the lawsuit states.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

"At this early stage, I am extremely cautious regarding what is fact vs. fiction or misrepresentation," Graham wrote on X.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

The trick is to make truthful revelation the rational choice and misrepresentation unprofitable.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

They alleged the detail in the letter was a misrepresentation of the government's position at that time and sought £51.4m in damages.

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2026

Most important, from the point of view of the friendship, Jefferson admitted that his behind-the-scenes criticism of Adams had been a willful misrepresentation.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis