misidentification
noun
mis·iden·ti·fi·ca·tion
ˌmis-ī-ˌden-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən 
ˌmis-ə-
plural misidentifications
: incorrect or false identification
The long-term nature of a life insurance policy sometimes accounts for a misidentification of the insured.—
Harriett E. Jones et al.
Harriett E. Jones et al.In the finished novel, the central character insists on calling his girlfriend June, though her name is Joan—one of many obsessional misidentifications in [Henry] Green's fiction.—Jeremy Treglown
Jeremy TreglownExamples of misidentification in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Asked if Timmerman's misidentification was a moment of false hope, Debra Tice instead characterized it as a moment of joy to be shared.
—Fox News, 15 Dec. 2024
Past researchers had relied on incomplete or distorted diagrams, which led to misidentifications and incorrect assumptions about their populations.
—Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
Though increasingly deployed by governments and businesses, facial recognition continues to draw concerns about mass surveillance and the potential for misidentification.
—Paresh Dave, WIRED, 9 Oct. 2024
The controversy around Snoop’s Ajna Goat pendant and its misidentification as a Satanic symbol by the Christian right shows how brands can turn misunderstandings into powerful marketing moments.
—Lilian Raji, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for misidentification 
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Fox News, 15 Dec. 2024
Past researchers had relied on incomplete or distorted diagrams, which led to misidentifications and incorrect assumptions about their populations.
—Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
Though increasingly deployed by governments and businesses, facial recognition continues to draw concerns about mass surveillance and the potential for misidentification.
—Paresh Dave, WIRED, 9 Oct. 2024
The controversy around Snoop’s Ajna Goat pendant and its misidentification as a Satanic symbol by the Christian right shows how brands can turn misunderstandings into powerful marketing moments.
—Lilian Raji, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for misidentification
Dictionary Entries Near misidentification
Cite this Entry
“Misidentification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misidentification. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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