miscalculation

noun

mis·​cal·​cu·​la·​tion ˌmis-ˌkal-kyə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce miscalculation (audio)
plural miscalculations
: a mistake in calculation : wrong calculation
a costly miscalculation
… ruled that utility shareholders, not electricity consumers, must pay for some or all of the miscalculations that resulted in excessive expansion or cost overruns.Peter Nulty

Examples of miscalculation in a Sentence

treating her opponent as an intellectual lightweight was a serious miscalculation on her part
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That miscalculation opened the door for New York to sign him to a four-year, $104 million deal. Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 23 May 2025 Without reliable frameworks, international politics will become more uncertain and volatile, making miscalculation and conflict more likely. Allison Carnegie, Foreign Affairs, 14 May 2025 Kashmir is not merely a territorial dispute but a nuclear flashpoint, where minor miscalculations can spiral into catastrophe. Faisal Kutty, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025 The line between sufficient self-preservation and excessive vigilance is thin and our own miscalculations on what actually constitutes a risk may only muddy the waters. Allie Volpe, Vox, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for miscalculation

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of miscalculation was in 1653

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Cite this Entry

“Miscalculation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miscalculation. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

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