misinformation
mis-in-fer-MAY-shun
/ˌmɪsɪnfərˈmeɪʃən/
False or inaccurate information, especially that which is unintentionally or innocently spread.
Misinformation refers to incorrect information, regardless of the intent behind its spread. It can be a genuine mistake or a misunderstanding.
The story behind the word. The word 'misinformation' is formed by combining the prefix 'mis-' (meaning 'wrong' or 'badly') with 'information.' The 'mis-' prefix comes from Old English and Old French, while 'information' traces back to Latin 'informare,' meaning 'to form, instruct, teach.' So, 'misinformation' literally means 'wrong information' or 'badly formed information,' highlighting its incorrect nature without necessarily implying malicious intent.
Word relationships
- inaccuracy: The state of being incorrect or imprecise.
- error: A mistake.
- falsehood: The state of being untrue.
- truth: The quality or state of being true.
- facts: Information that is known or proved to be true.
- accuracy: The quality or state of being correct or precise.
Commonly confused with
- disinformation: Misinformation is simply incorrect information, regardless of intent; disinformation is intentionally false and misleading.
Collocations
- spread misinformation
- correct misinformation
- health misinformation
- online misinformation
Example sentences
- "The spread of misinformation about vaccines poses a significant threat to public health efforts." Discussing public health.
- "The company issued a statement to correct the misinformation circulating about its new product launch." Correcting a rumor.
Memory hook
MISINFORMATION is 'MIS-TAKEN INFORMATION' that is wrong but not necessarily evil. Unintentional false info
When not to use
Do not use 'misinformation' when referring to deliberately deceptive information; 'disinformation' is the correct term for that.
Fun facts
- The distinction between misinformation and disinformation has become crucial in the era of social media, where both can spread rapidly.
- Fact-checking organizations primarily work to identify and correct both misinformation and disinformation.
Related words
Explore more words
disinformation, deceitful, error, distortion, miss the mark, inadvertent
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