Dictionary

misconstruction en · NOUN

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- English construction English misconstruction From mis- + construction.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Mistaken or faulty construction; an instance of it. ▸ A misunderstanding or misinterpretation resulting from a different meaning than intended of a word that has multiple meanings.
   • Our attention has been called to the possibility of misconstruction in our reply given under the above heading in the December issue concerning track circuit through busy stations normally entered at low speeds. 1941 March, “The Why and the Wherefore: Track Circuit”, in Railway Magazine, page 142:
2. (countable, uncountable) Mistaken or faulty construction; an instance of it. ▸ Other misconstrual or misinterpretation not necessarily hinging on missense of any particular word.
   • a misconstruction of the law
3. (countable, uncountable) Mistaken or faulty construction; an instance of it. ▸ An ungrammatical phrase; a misformed word.
4. (countable, uncommon, uncountable) Mistaken or faulty construction; an instance of it. ▸ The act of misbuilding; an instance of it.

Forms

Relateds

eggcorn