Misalignment Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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misalignment

[หŒmษชsษ™หˆlaษชnmษ™nt ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

industrial

The incorrect positioning or arrangement of components, resulting in a lack of proper alignment.

Synonyms

displacement, misarrangement, misposition.

Examples of usage

  • Misalignment of the gears led to the malfunction of the machinery.
  • The misalignment of the parts caused delays in production.
Context #2 | Noun

medical

A condition in which parts are not properly aligned, especially in reference to bones or joints.

Synonyms

dislocation, malposition, misplacement.

Examples of usage

  • The misalignment of the spine can cause chronic back pain.
  • Orthodontic treatment can correct dental misalignments.
Context #3 | Noun

general

A lack of agreement or compatibility between two or more things.

Synonyms

discrepancy, disharmony, incompatibility.

Examples of usage

  • The misalignment of our schedules made it difficult to meet up.
  • There was misalignment between the company's goals and the employee's objectives.

Translations

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Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • Misalignment in communication can lead to misunderstandings, reflecting how we perceive and interpret information.
  • Cognitive dissonance occurs when a person's beliefs or attitudes are misaligned with their actions, causing discomfort and the need for change.
  • In relationships, emotional misalignment might arise when partners have different expectations or values, leading to conflict.

Engineering

  • In machinery, misalignment can cause wear and tear, increasing the risk of breakdowns.
  • Misalignment is a key factor in the assembly of vehicles and machinery; correcting it can improve performance.
  • Sensors can detect misalignment in large structures, preventing potential failures.

Business

  • Strategic misalignment in organizations happens when company goals do not match employee objectives, affecting productivity.
  • In project management, misalignment can result in wasted resources and time if team members are not on the same page.
  • Corporate culture misalignments can lead to employee dissatisfaction and high turnover rates.

Technology

  • In software development, misalignment often refers to a gap between user needs and technical capabilities, affecting usability.
  • Network misalignment can disrupt communication between devices, leading to inefficiencies in data transfer.
  • In AI, misalignment between machine objectives and human ethics raises concerns for future technology development.

Origin of 'misalignment'

Main points about word origin

  • The prefix 'mis-' means wrong or badly, while 'alignment' comes from the Latin 'linea,' meaning line.
  • The term started being used in engineering and mechanics before it branched into other fields.
  • It highlights the contrast between correct positioning and what happens when that's disrupted.

The word 'misalignment' originated from the combination of 'mis-' meaning 'badly' and 'alignment' referring to the proper arrangement or positioning of something. It first appeared in the mid-19th century in the context of industrial machinery and later expanded to include various fields such as medicine and general communication.


See also: align, aligned, aligning, alignment, alignments, misalign, nonaligned, realignment.