mischaracterization
/mɪsˌkæɹəktəɹ(a)ɪˈzeɪʃən/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.60 in modern English
37
Scrabble Score
19
Letters
7
Syllables
12
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The act of characterizing something in an inaccurate or misleading way.
Example Sentences
- "Near-synonyms: misportrayal, misrepresentation"
- "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.”"
- "“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.”"
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.