misinterpreted

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "misinterpreted" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when someone has understood something incorrectly. Example sentence: The history lesson was misinterpreted by many of the students.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A source familiar with the Whitehall preparations told the Guardian that officials were worried that the Queen's presence could be misinterpreted, should the election on 7 May produce a hung parliament.

The Guardian

I regret that my question could be misinterpreted, and that it enabled many to ignore the substance of the question – and Putin's evasive response – in order to speculate, wildly and incorrectly, about my motives for asking it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Up to seven different systems were used to communicate between agencies and information was misinterpreted or reinterpreted incorrectly on numerous occasions.

The Guardian

He pressed one star, a Unicef ambassador, about the death of children, but she declined, said Asi, "saying that she is no expert on this matter and doesn't want her words to be misinterpreted".

The Guardian

But a spokesman for Turnbull told Guardian Australia the distinction between programs and production had been misinterpreted and the Lewis report did not suggest outsourcing all ABC TV programs such as Play School and the Movie Show to the private sector.

The Guardian

Yet the manager added: "I think a lot of people have misinterpreted my statement as some form of apology.

The Guardian - Sport

This station gives voice to opposition leaders and reports on events that are otherwise ignored or misinterpreted by other state-controlled media.

The Guardian

He wrote to staff that he was mortified by the way in which some of his comments were misinterpreted.

The Guardian - Business

Pressed on the negative reaction from trading partners, Robb said the comments had been misinterpreted.

The Guardian

The document read: "On the balance of probabilities, we find that Mr Bellusci used the word 'nero' once, in the context that he claims, and that Mr Jerome misheard or misinterpreted what was said as 'negro'negro

The Guardian - Sport

Changing traditional belief systems is difficult, but Runia Mowla believes the few people who support child marriage for religious reasons have misinterpreted texts, and many Bangladeshi politicians support international efforts to halt the practice.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "misinterpreted" when you want to express that something was not just misunderstood, but understood in a way that is incorrect.

Common error

Avoid substituting "misinterpreted" with "uninterpreted". "Uninterpreted" means something hasn't been analyzed or understood yet, whereas "misinterpreted" means it has been understood incorrectly.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "misinterpreted" is as the past participle or simple past tense of the verb misinterpret. It indicates an action where something was incorrectly understood or interpreted. Ludwig confirms this, showcasing many instances in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "misinterpreted" signifies an incorrect understanding or interpretation, as confirmed by Ludwig. As Ludwig AI shows, it functions grammatically as a verb form and carries a neutral tone, making it suitable for diverse contexts. While similar to "misunderstood", it carries a more active connotation of incorrect meaning assignment. The best practice is to provide context to clarify the misunderstanding. Common errors involve confusing it with "uninterpreted". According to Ludwig's examples, "misinterpreted" is frequently employed in news and media, highlighting its relevance in dissecting communication breakdowns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

misunderstood

A general term for failing to understand correctly.

incorrectly understood

A straightforward way of saying that someone's comprehension was flawed.

misconstrued

Emphasizes a wrong interpretation, often suggesting a deliberate or biased misunderstanding.

interpreted erroneously

Emphasizes the error in the interpretation process.

misread

Suggests a failure to understand the true meaning or intention behind something, like a text or situation.

perceived inaccurately

Highlights the faulty perception or sensory interpretation of something.

misapprehended

Implies a more formal or intellectual failure to grasp the correct understanding.

failed to grasp

Focuses on the inability to comprehend the full scope or meaning of something.

taken the wrong way

Indicates that someone has reacted negatively or incorrectly to a statement or action.

got the wrong end of the stick

An idiomatic expression indicating a complete misunderstanding of a situation.

FAQs

How can I use "misinterpreted" in a sentence?

You can use "misinterpreted" to indicate that something was understood incorrectly. For example, "His silence was "misinterpreted" as agreement, but he actually disagreed."

What's the difference between "misinterpreted" and "misunderstood"?

"Misinterpreted" suggests a more active and potentially consequential misunderstanding, while "misunderstood" is a more general term for failing to understand correctly. "Misinterpreted" often implies an incorrect meaning was assigned.

What are some alternatives to "misinterpreted"?

Alternatives to "misinterpreted" include "misconstrued", "misunderstood", or "misread", depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it always negative to say something was "misinterpreted"?

Yes, using "misinterpreted" typically carries a negative connotation, as it implies that there was a failure in communication or understanding that led to an incorrect interpretation of events, statements, or intentions.