misinformation

noun

mis·​in·​for·​ma·​tion ˌmis-ˌin-fər-ˈmā-shən 

: incorrect or misleading information

Indubitably, a great deal of paranoid and otherwise irresponsible misinformation about the Kennedy assassination has traveled far and sold well …

—Ronnie Dugger

A muddle of misinformation keeps clouding the debate over hormone-replacement therapy for women.

—Melinda Beck

Each of these pieces of information (and misinformation) about me is sold for about two-fifths of a cent to advertisers, which then deliver me an Internet ad, send me a catalog or mail me a credit-card offer.

—Joel Stein

Examples of misinformation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Since then, the case has been the subject of intense social media attention — and misinformation. —Liam Quinn, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025

At an event that week, the First Lady, Janja Lula da Silva, spoke about the imperative of fighting misinformation. —Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025

The big problem leading to this new set of problems has been persistent misinformation and disinformation about the MMR vaccine and measles that began, guess when, around the year 2000. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025

The spread of antivaccine misinformation in the previous year had caused fear and uncertainty, which kept many families from vaccinating their children against measles. —Dr. Josh Green, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for misinformation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration