Misplacement: meaning, definitions and examples

Duplicate entry, context covered above.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.