'misassociate' is formed in modern English by combining the prefix 'mis-' (meaning 'wrong' or 'badly') with the verb 'associate'. The element 'associate' ultimately comes from Latin 'associāre', from 'socius' meaning 'companion'.

The verb 'associate' passed into English via Middle French and Middle English from Latin (e.g. Late Latin 'associāre' and Medieval Latin 'associātus'); the productive English prefix 'mis-' (Old English 'mis-') was later attached to create 'misassociate' to indicate an incorrect association.

The core sense has remained consistent: 'associate' meant 'to join or unite with', and 'misassociate' has meant 'to join or link incorrectly' since its formation; the primary change is the addition of negative/incorrect nuance supplied by 'mis-'.