Misinform: meaning, definitions and examples

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misinform

 

[ ˌmɪs.ɪnˈfɔːrm ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

spread false information

To misinform means to give someone false or misleading information, often with the intention of deceiving or misleading them. This can occur through various means such as spreading rumors, manipulating facts, or deliberately withholding key details.

Synonyms

deceive, delude, mislead.

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Word Description / Examples
misinform

Misleading someone by giving them incorrect information, often unintentionally.

  • The press release misinformed the public about the real reason for the CEO's resignation.
  • Parents were misinformed about the school's new policy changes.
mislead

Causing someone to have a wrong idea or impression, can be both intentional or unintentional.

  • The advertisement misled customers about the effectiveness of the product.
  • He didn't lie, but his vague answers misled everyone into thinking he was guilty.
deceive

Intentionally causing someone to believe something that is not true, often for personal gain.

  • The scammer deceived the victims by pretending to be a bank representative.
  • He tried to deceive his friend by lying about his whereabouts.
delude

Making someone to hold a false belief, sometimes even implying self-deception.

  • She deluded herself into thinking she could pass the exam without studying.
  • The cult leader deluded his followers into believing he had supernatural powers.

Examples of usage

  • Politicians sometimes misinform the public to gain support for their policies.
  • The fake news website was created to misinform readers about current events.

Translations

Translations of the word "misinform" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desinformar

🇮🇳 ग़लत जानकारी देना

🇩🇪 falsch informieren

🇮🇩 menyebarkan informasi yang salah

🇺🇦 дезінформувати

🇵🇱 dezinformować

🇯🇵 誤報する

🇫🇷 désinformer

🇪🇸 desinformar

🇹🇷 yanlış bilgi vermek

🇰🇷 잘못된 정보를 제공하다

🇸🇦 تضليل

🇨🇿 dezinformovat

🇸🇰 dezinformovať

🇨🇳 误导

🇸🇮 dezinformirati

🇮🇸 afvegaleiða

🇰🇿 дезинформация беру

🇬🇪 დეზინფორმაცია

🇦🇿 dezinformasiya vermək

🇲🇽 desinformar

Etymology

The word 'misinform' originated from the combination of 'mis-' (meaning wrongly) and 'inform'. It first appeared in the English language in the early 17th century. The term has since been used to describe the act of providing false or inaccurate information to others, often for deceitful purposes.

See also: disinformation, inform, informality, informally, informant, informatics, information, informative, informed, informer, informers, informing, misinformation, misinformed, misinforming, uninformed.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,526, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.