mischaracterization en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /mɪsˌkæɹəktəɹ(a)ɪˈzeɪʃən/
- (Mid-Atlantic, US) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *mey-? Proto-Indo-European *meyth₂-der. Proto-Germanic *missaz Proto-Germanic *missa- Proto-West Germanic *missa- Old English mis- Middle English mys- English mis- Ancient Greek χαράσσω (kharássō) Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Hellenic *-tḗr Ancient Greek -τήρ (-tḗr) Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ (kharaktḗr) Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ίζω (-ízō) Ancient Greek χᾰρακτηρίζω (khăraktērízō)der. Medieval Latin charactērizōder. English characterize English mischaracterize Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation English mischaracterization From mischaracterize + -ation.
Meanings
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The act of characterizing something in an inaccurate or misleading way.
In a statement last month, Mr. Spitzer said, “No amount of distortion, scare tactics and mischaracterization will change the underlying fact that New York’s health care system is broken.”
2007 March 12, Danny Hakim, “Legislature Acts to Restore Spitzer’s Cuts in Health Care”, in The New York Times:Near-synonyms: misportrayal, misrepresentation
“It is deeply disappointing,” [Jankowicz] wrote, “that mischaracterizations of the Board became a distraction from the Department’s vital work, and indeed, along with recent events globally and nationally, embodies why it is necessary.”
2022 May 18, Steven Lee Myers, “A Panel to Combat Disinformation Becomes a Victim of It”, in The New York Times:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| mischaracterisation | UK, alternative | lexicographic | |
| mischaracterizations | Number=Plur | lexicographic |