Meaning & Definition
noun
The action of interpreting something incorrectly or misunderstanding it.
His misinterpretation of the instructions led to a failed experiment.
A misunderstanding of a message or situation.
The misinterpretation of her words caused a rift between the friends.
An inaccurate interpretation of data or information.
The misinterpretation of the survey results resulted in flawed conclusions.
An error in understanding someone’s intent or feelings.
Her misinterpretation of his silence led her to believe he was upset.
Etymology
From the prefix 'mis-' meaning wrong or bad, and the word 'interpretation', which derives from Latin 'interpretatio'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
to misinterpret the signals:
To understand signals or cues incorrectly.
misinterpret someone's intentions:
To misunderstand what someone means or wants.
misinterpret the message:
To wrongly understand the meaning of a conveyed message.
Slang Meanings
Get it twisted
If you get it twisted, you might misinterpret what I said.
Read between the lines wrong
You read between the lines wrong, leading to a major misinterpretation.