Misidentify Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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misidentify

[หŒmษชsสŒษชหˆdษ›ntษชfaษช ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

in a situation

To incorrectly recognize or identify someone or something, usually due to confusion or lack of information.

Synonyms

confuse, mislabel, mistake.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
misidentify

Misidentify is used when you incorrectly recognize or name someone or something. It's often used in formal or official situations.

  • The security cameras misidentified the suspect
  • The scientist misidentified the specimen
confuse

Confuse is often used when you mix things up in your mind or make mistakes because things seem similar or unclear. This word is common in both everyday language and less formal contexts.

  • I always confuse their names
  • The complicated instructions confused me
mistake

Mistake is a general term used when you do something wrong or choose incorrectly. It can be used both formally and informally.

  • I mistook him for his brother
  • She mistook the salt for sugar
mislabel

Mislabel is typically used when something is given the wrong label or name, often referring to products, items, or data. This word is frequently used in contexts related to business, science, or data.

  • The bottles were mislabeled at the factory
  • The map mislabels the river's name

Examples of usage

  • The witness misidentified the suspect in the lineup.
  • I'm sorry, but you have misidentified the problem.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'misidentify'

The word 'misidentify' is a combination of 'mis-' meaning 'incorrectly' and 'identify' meaning 'recognize'. It first appeared in the mid-19th century and has been used to describe the act of mistakenly recognizing or labeling someone or something ever since.


See also: identifiable, identification, identifier, identifiers, identify, identifying, unidentified.