Misplacement: meaning, definitions and examples

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misplacement

[ˌmɪsˈpleɪsmənt ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in a sentence

The misplacement of the keys led to a frantic search throughout the house.

Synonyms

dislocation, mislaying, misposition.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
misplacement	Duplicate entry, context covered above.
mislaying	Informal and often temporary, this word is suitable for everyday situations where something is lost due to carelessness. I keep mislaying my glasses; I had them just a minute ago
misposition	Less common and typically used in technical or engineering contexts to describe something being placed incorrectly. The misposition of the sensor caused faulty readings in the experiment
dislocation	Best used in medical or mechanical contexts to describe something being out of its proper position. Can also be used metaphorically to describe disruption. The patient suffered a dislocation of the shoulder during the accident

Examples of usage

The misplacement of the documents caused a delay in the project.
Her misplacement of the blame onto others only worsened the situation.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

in a sentence

Misplacement of items in the store often results in customer frustration.

Synonyms

displacement, misarrangement, misplacing.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
misplacement	When something is put in the wrong place. Often implies a mistake or error in the location. The misplacement of the keys caused a lot of confusion. There was a misplacement of documents in the office.
misplacing	When temporarily forgetting where something was put, often used in everyday situations with personal items. I keep misplacing my glasses. She apologized for misplacing her homework.
displacement	Used in contexts where something is moved from its original place, sometimes involuntarily or forcefully, and can also refer to people. The war led to the displacement of thousands of families. The displacement of the statue was necessary for the renovation.
misarrangement	Refers to things being arranged in a wrong or incorrect manner, often leading to disorder. The misarrangement of furniture made the room look cluttered. Due to the misarrangement of files, it took hours to find the report.

Examples of usage

The misplacement of the merchandise made it difficult for customers to find what they needed.
Proper organization can help prevent misplacement of inventory.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

in a sentence

The misplacement of the blame caused tension among the team members.

Synonyms

misallocation, mislaying, misposition.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
misplacement	Use 'misplacement' when referring to putting an object in the wrong location, typically temporarily. It often implies that the object will be found again. The misplacement of the keys caused a delay in the trip. I found your glasses; their misplacement on the bookshelf was unexpected.
mislaying	Use 'mislaying' when referring to unintentionally placing an object somewhere and temporarily losing it. It's often used in everyday situations. After mislaying my phone, I had to retrace my steps to find it. She apologized for mislaying the important documents.
misposition	Use 'misposition' when referring to placing something in the wrong position or orientation. It's often used in technical or specialized contexts. The mechanic corrected the misposition of the engine part. Due to a misposition of the satellites, the communication link was unstable.
misallocation	Use 'misallocation' when talking about the incorrect distribution of resources, funds, time, or effort. It usually implies a systematic or administrative error. The project suffered from a misallocation of funds, which delayed its completion. Misallocation of resources has resulted in inadequate support for the new initiative.

Examples of usage

His misplacement of priorities led to missed deadlines.
Constant misplacement of items can be a sign of disorganization.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the prefix 'mis-' meaning 'wrongly' and 'placement,' which means 'putting something in a position.'
It was first recorded in English in the late 19th century, highlighting its relatively recent adoption into everyday language.
The use of 'placement' alone dates back to the 14th century, but 'misplacement' gives it a specific twist of incorrect positioning.

Psychology

Studies show that misplacement can lead to stress and anxiety, particularly in environments that require organization, like workplaces.
Cognitive psychology suggests that our brains can struggle with memory retrieval if information or objects are not stored in their intended locations.
The phenomenon of forgetting where something is placed is linked to how we visualize our environment and develop spatial awareness.

Art

Many modern art pieces deliberately play with misplacement, showcasing familiar objects in unexpected contexts to provoke thought.
Dadaism, an art movement that emerged in the early 20th century, often used misplacement to challenge traditional perceptions of art and reality.
Surrealist artists like Salvador Dalí often depicted objects in unusual placements to represent dreamlike states and the subconscious.

Education

In educational settings, misplacement of tools or materials can impact learning efficiency, demonstrating the importance of organization.
The concept of 'misplacement' can also apply to misplaced focus in learning, where a student may concentrate on less important details.
Teachers will often use scenarios of misplacement in lessons to teach problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Technology

In computer science, misplacement can refer to data that is stored incorrectly, leading to retrieval errors and debugging challenges.
File management programs often include features to prevent misplacement, helping users to sort and organize their files effectively.
Cloud storage solutions often have version control to prevent the misplacement of important documents during updates or changes.

Translations

Translations of the word "misplacement" in other languages:

🇵🇹 deslocamento

🇮🇳 ग़लत जगह रखना

🇩🇪 Fehlplatzierung

🇮🇩 penempatan yang salah

🇺🇦 неправильне розміщення

🇵🇱 niewłaściwe umieszczenie

🇯🇵 誤配置

🇫🇷 mauvais placement

🇪🇸 desplazamiento incorrecto

🇹🇷 yanlış yerleştirme

🇰🇷 잘못된 배치

🇸🇦 سوء وضع

🇨🇿 nesprávné umístění

🇸🇰 nesprávne umiestnenie

🇨🇳 放置不当

🇸🇮 napačna postavitev

🇮🇸 röng staðsetning

🇰🇿 дұрыс орналастырмау

🇬🇪 არასწორი განთავსება

🇦🇿 səhv yerləşdirmə

🇲🇽 colocación incorrecta

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,295, 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.

...
35292 veritably
35293 gloomier
35294 obfuscate
35295 misplacement
35296 incontrovertibly
35297 economized
35298 signore
...