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

However, a report published at the end of 2024 found that the rise in cases may stem from misinformation and lack of information about the whooping cough vaccine, including many parents who may not know pertussis and whooping cough are the same thing. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025

Recent misinformation trends, however, have caused a resurgence in people seeking out and consuming raw dairy. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 19 May 2025

Among the greatest risks of AI, according to experts and the people interviewed for this story, are questionable veracity (deepfakes and misinformation), subliminal manipulation of human behavior, lack of diverse opinions, invasion of privacy, lack of transparency and concentration of power. —Jennifer Green, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2025

At a time when misinformation can spread faster than a virus, taking a moment to pause and fact-check can make a big difference. —Angshuman K. Kashyap, The Conversation, 16 May 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