miscalculation
noun
mis·cal·cu·la·tion
ˌmis-ˌkal-kyə-ˈlā-shən 
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
Peter NultyExamples of miscalculation in a Sentence
treating her opponent as an intellectual lightweight was a serious miscalculation on her part
Recent Examples on the Web
In some cases, overpayments are due to miscalculations on the part of the Social Security Administration, or because the agency doesn't update beneficiaries' records in a timely way.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2025
But given the enthusiasm the Mancunian is now showing, his harsh approach to the situation looks like a catastrophic miscalculation.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Its passage follows a Connecticut Mirror investigation on long-term care coverage that found the annual cost of maintaining these policies has skyrocketed for many residents due to miscalculations by insurers on how long people would live, the price of care and how many would need it.
—Jenna Carlesso, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2025
Even if both sides are seeking to avoid using nuclear weapons, events could escalate inadvertently, and the dangers of accidents, miscalculations, and unexpected developments—all common in war—leading to nuclear strikes are larger when both sides have nuclear weapons.
—Paul Avey, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2025
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Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2025
But given the enthusiasm the Mancunian is now showing, his harsh approach to the situation looks like a catastrophic miscalculation.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Its passage follows a Connecticut Mirror investigation on long-term care coverage that found the annual cost of maintaining these policies has skyrocketed for many residents due to miscalculations by insurers on how long people would live, the price of care and how many would need it.
—Jenna Carlesso, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2025
Even if both sides are seeking to avoid using nuclear weapons, events could escalate inadvertently, and the dangers of accidents, miscalculations, and unexpected developments—all common in war—leading to nuclear strikes are larger when both sides have nuclear weapons.
—Paul Avey, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for miscalculation
Cite this Entry
“Miscalculation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miscalculation. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
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