malposition
|mal-po-si-tion|
/ˌmæl.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/
bad or incorrect placement
Etymology
'malposition' originates from the combining form 'mal-' (from Old French 'mal', from Latin 'malus' meaning 'bad') and 'position' (from Latin 'positio', from 'ponere' meaning 'to place').
'malposition' was formed in English by combining the prefix 'mal-' with the noun 'position' (from Latin via Old French); the parts 'mal-' + 'position' produced the compound term used in Late Middle English/Modern English for 'bad placing'.
Initially it literally meant 'bad placing' or 'poor placement'; over time the term became specialized in medical and technical contexts to refer to specific kinds of incorrect placement (for example, of a fetus, organ, or device).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an abnormal or incorrect position of a body part, organ, or fetus (especially used in medical contexts).
The obstetrician noted a malposition of the fetus that might complicate delivery.
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Noun 2
incorrect placement of a medical device or implant (e.g., catheter malposition).
Postoperative imaging revealed a malposition of the catheter that required correction.
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Last updated: 2025/10/22 19:47