misdefine

verb

mis·​de·​fine ˌmis-di-ˈfīn How to pronounce misdefine (audio)
misdefined; misdefining

transitive verb

: to incorrectly identify or set forth the meaning of (something, such as a word) : to define wrongly
a term that is often misdefined in textbooks
… and misdefine what it means to engage in quid pro quo.Olympia Meola

Examples of misdefine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And the problem with the battlefield is that victory is misdefined here. David Remnick, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2023 To misdefine them, as Mr. Warsh does, is to relieve politicians the world over who, in response to a spreading virus, chose economic contraction as their mitigation strategy. WSJ, 20 Dec. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1813, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of misdefine was in 1813

Dictionary Entries Near misdefine

Cite this Entry

“Misdefine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misdefine. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!