Mislabeled Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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mislabeled

[mษชsหˆleษชbld ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adjective

incorrectly identified

The term 'mislabeled' refers to something that has been incorrectly labeled or identified. This can occur in various contexts such as products, documents, or even data classifications. Mislabeled items can lead to confusion, errors in processing, and significant issues in quality control. Correct labeling is crucial for ensuring accurate information communication.

Synonyms

falsely labeled, incorrectly tagged, misidentified.

Examples of usage

  • The mislabeled jar contained a completely different product.
  • We discovered that the mislabeled data led to a faulty analysis.
  • Due to a mislabeled box, we sent the wrong items to the customer.

Translations

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Interesting Facts

Education

  • Incorrect labels in educational materials can lead to confusion and misunderstandings about subjects.
  • Mislabeled items in science experiments can affect results, suggesting the importance of accurate identification.

Technology

  • In software, mislabeled buttons or features can frustrate users, making apps less user-friendly.
  • Mislabeling files in organization systems can lead to data loss or difficulty in retrieving important information.

Psychology

  • People can mislabel emotions, like calling anger 'frustration', which can lead to misunderstandings in communication.
  • Cognitive biases can cause individuals to mislabel their feelings based on past experiences.

Pop Culture

  • Movies sometimes play with the idea of mislabeling, such as a detective mistaking a suspect's identity, creating dramatic twists.
  • In literature, characters may be mislabeled by society, prompting themes of identity and self-discovery.

Origin of 'mislabeled'

Main points about word origin

  • 'Mis' is a prefix that means 'wrong' or 'bad', while 'labeled' comes from 'label', which refers to a name or tag.
  • The opposite of 'mislabeled' is 'well-labeled', which means things are named correctly and easy to understand.

The word 'mislabeled' is a compound word formed from the prefix 'mis-' and the root word 'label'. The prefix 'mis-' originates from Old English, meaning 'wrongly' or 'badly', which is used to indicate an error or incorrectness. The word 'label' comes from the Middle English 'label', referring to a slip of paper or tag used to describe or identify an item. This root can be traced further back to the Latin term 'libella', which means 'a small book or document'. Over time, the combination of the prefix with 'label' has evolved to describe anything that has been improperly marked or identified, reflecting the growing importance of accurate information in various fields.