'misinformation' originates from the prefix 'mis-' meaning 'wrong' or 'badly' and the word 'information', which comes from Latin 'informare', meaning 'to shape, form, or instruct'.

'misinformation' evolved from the Old French word 'mesinformation', which was used in the 14th century, and eventually became the modern English word 'misinformation'.

Initially, it meant 'wrong information', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.