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Misspell: meaning, definitions and examples

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misspell

 

[ ˌmɪsˈspɛl ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

writing issue

To misspell means to spell a word incorrectly. It can refer to any error in the spelling of a word, whether it be a transposition of letters, the omission of letters, or adding incorrect ones. Misspelling can occur in informal contexts, such as texting or casual writing, as well as formal writing, like essays or business communications. Misspelled words can undermine the clarity and professionalism of the text, which is why spell-check tools are commonly used in writing applications.

Synonyms

blunder, error, mistype.

Examples of usage

  • I always misspell 'definitely' as 'definately'.
  • It's easy to misspell names if you're not familiar with them.
  • She tends to misspell common words when she's in a hurry.
  • He was embarrassed to find he had misspelled the title of his speech.

Translations

Translations of the word "misspell" in other languages:

🇵🇹 escrever errado

🇮🇳 गलत लिखना

🇩🇪 falsch schreiben

🇮🇩 salah mengeja

🇺🇦 неправильно написати

🇵🇱 źle pisać

🇯🇵 誤って書く

🇫🇷 mal écrire

🇪🇸 escribir mal

🇹🇷 yanlış yazmak

🇰🇷 잘못 쓰다

🇸🇦 يخطئ في الكتابة

🇨🇿 špatně napsat

🇸🇰 zle napísať

🇨🇳 拼写错误

🇸🇮 narobe napisati

🇮🇸 röng skrifa

🇰🇿 қате жазу

🇬🇪 არასწორად წერა

🇦🇿 səhv yazmaq

🇲🇽 escribir mal

Etymology

The word 'misspell' dates back to the 19th century, comprising the prefix 'mis-', which comes from Old English meaning 'wrongly' or 'badly', and the word 'spell', which has its roots in the Old English 'spellian', meaning 'to tell' or 'to relate'. The combination reflects the act of spelling a word incorrectly, contrasting with the correct or intended spelling. The increasing reliance on written communication during this period, particularly in educational contexts, may have contributed to the emergence of the term as errors in spelling became a common concern. 'Misspell' has since become a standard term in both educational and professional settings, highlighting the importance of accurate spelling in effective communication.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,913, 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.