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
The remains of Shiri Bibas and her two sons, Kfir and Ariel, were handed over as part of a ceasefire deal earlier this month, but an initial misidentification led to further anguish when one of the bodies returned was found to belong to someone else.
—Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
That fact—and the initial misidentification of the men in the photo—would fuel decades of rumors the photo was staged.
—Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Feb. 2025
Later Friday, Hamas released another body claiming to be that of Shiri Bibas, whose misidentification a day earlier threatened to derail the fragile Gaza ceasefire deal.
—Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
The misidentification—and Adams’ purchase of the painting—may be related to the fact that Ruskin actually knew and admired Turner.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misidentification
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Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
That fact—and the initial misidentification of the men in the photo—would fuel decades of rumors the photo was staged.
—Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Feb. 2025
Later Friday, Hamas released another body claiming to be that of Shiri Bibas, whose misidentification a day earlier threatened to derail the fragile Gaza ceasefire deal.
—Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
The misidentification—and Adams’ purchase of the painting—may be related to the fact that Ruskin actually knew and admired Turner.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misidentification
Cite this Entry
“Misidentification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misidentification. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
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