mistranslation
noun
mis·trans·la·tion
ˌmis-tran(t)s-ˈlā-shən 
-tranz-
plural mistranslations
: a mistake in translating : an incorrect translation
… suffers from a number of repetitive mistranslations that leave readers with a misleading understanding …—
Lynn Ginsburg et al.
Lynn Ginsburg et al.Examples of mistranslation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Controversies can hinge on the exact meaning of a single phrase, on possible mistranslations from the Japanese original (was the Great Tree meant to be distinct from the Erdtree, or not?), on subtle details of costume and statuary.
—Gabriel Winslow-Yost, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Still, creators will need to have faith that TikTok’s new dubbing tools will be accurate enough to avoid embarrassing mistranslation blunders.
—Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 17 June 2024
In fact, Shatz thinks this word—which does have a whiff of ethnic cleansing—is a mistranslation.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
But that did nothing to stop Ms. Greene from continuing to forge ahead with her measure, which quotes the mistranslation.
—Annie Karni, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024
As the number of translation requests for Ukrainian tweets surged, our team made changes to insure that the service could keep up, and addressed reports of mistranslation.
—Sheon Han, The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2024
Cole’s butchered Anglophone pronunciation of Spanish gives the songs an odd, unforgettable poignancy: love as a mistranslation.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2023
Misinformation can also arise from mistranslations.
—Christine Fernando, USA TODAY, 29 July 2023
Over the past 2,000 years, Buddhist teachings have encountered distortions and alterations due to mistranslation and misinterpretation of Buddha-dharma by Buddhist patriarchs, eminent monastics, and Buddhist scholars.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 25 July 2023
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illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
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Gabriel Winslow-Yost, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Still, creators will need to have faith that TikTok’s new dubbing tools will be accurate enough to avoid embarrassing mistranslation blunders.
—Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 17 June 2024
In fact, Shatz thinks this word—which does have a whiff of ethnic cleansing—is a mistranslation.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
But that did nothing to stop Ms. Greene from continuing to forge ahead with her measure, which quotes the mistranslation.
—Annie Karni, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024
As the number of translation requests for Ukrainian tweets surged, our team made changes to insure that the service could keep up, and addressed reports of mistranslation.
—Sheon Han, The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2024
Cole’s butchered Anglophone pronunciation of Spanish gives the songs an odd, unforgettable poignancy: love as a mistranslation.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2023
Misinformation can also arise from mistranslations.
—Christine Fernando, USA TODAY, 29 July 2023
Over the past 2,000 years, Buddhist teachings have encountered distortions and alterations due to mistranslation and misinterpretation of Buddha-dharma by Buddhist patriarchs, eminent monastics, and Buddhist scholars.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 25 July 2023
Dictionary Entries Near mistranslation
Cite this Entry
“Mistranslation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mistranslation. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
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