misquotation

noun

mis·​quo·​ta·​tion ˌmis-kwō-ˈtā-shən 

 also  -kō-

plural misquotations

: the act or an instance of quoting something or someone incorrectly

In the book, Mr. Sullivan offers 10 common "mechanisms" that he says lead to misquotation and incorrect attribution.

—Niraj Chokshi

: an incorrect quotation

"Play it again, Sam" is a famous misquotation. Bergman's character, Ilsa Lund, tells piano player Sam (Dooley Wilson): "Play it, Sam. Play As Time Goes By."

—Jeffrey Sheban

Examples of misquotation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sixty years later, Tevye’s misquotations muddying the Torah, coupled with his witty megalomania, have reverberated through the halls of American theaters in countless productions. —Dave Gordon, Sun Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2024

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona’s misquotation (Notable & Quotable, Nov. 29) brings to mind the advice my father gave me. —WSJ, 3 Dec. 2023

The fact-check flagged a misquotation that should have been rendered as a paraphrase. —Erik Wemple, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined above