misunderstanding
/ˌmɪsʌndɚˈstændɪŋ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.70 in modern English
21
Scrabble Score
16
Letters
5
Syllables
11
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A mistake as to the meaning of something or a specific point of view; erroneous interpretation or comprehension; misconception.
noun
verb
present participle and gerund of misunderstand
Example Sentences
- "The worst distance between two people is misunderstanding. - Thoughtkick"
- "Because of misunderstandings among certain member states of the Organization of African Unity's voices have been occasionally raised recently against the convocation of the Assembly in Accra. Nonetheless, the regular Assembly of the Heads of State and Government was, in the first place, designed to find peaceful solutions, through deliberations and frank exchange of views to such misunderstandings among member-states."
- "It was only months and months afterwards, when I made the attempt to recover what was left of the body, that I heard the original quarrel arose from a misunderstanding about some hens."
Etymology
From Middle English mys undirstonding, equivalent to misunderstand + -ing. Compare Dutch misverstand (“misunderstanding”), German Missverständnis (“misunderstanding”), Swedish missförstånd (“misunderstanding”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: mys undirstonding
- Suffix: misunderstand
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌmɪsʌndɚˈstændɪŋ/
- British English: /ˌmɪsʌndəˈstændɪŋ/