misphrasing
|mis-phrase-ing|
/mɪsˈfreɪzɪŋ/
(misphrase)
phrase wrongly
Etymology
'misphrasing' originates from English, specifically formed from the prefix 'mis-' (meaning 'wrongly' or 'badly') and the noun 'phrase' (from which 'phrasing' is derived), where 'phrase' meant 'a group of words chosen to express an idea'.
'Phrase' ultimately comes from Greek 'phrasis' via Latin and Old French, and the modern English verb 'phrase' developed in Early Modern English. The compound 'mis-' + 'phrase/phrasing' is a modern English formation that produced 'misphrase' and its noun 'misphrasing'.
Initially, the elements meant 'wrongly' (mis-) and 'to express in words' (phrase); over time the compound came to specifically denote instances or acts of incorrect or awkward wording rather than a general idea of 'wrong expression.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an instance of expressing something using incorrect, imprecise, or awkward wording that can change or obscure the intended meaning.
The misphrasing in the contract led to a disagreement about who was responsible.
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Noun 2
a phrase or sentence that is ambiguous or misleading because of how it is worded.
That sentence is a misphrasing; it's easy to interpret it in two different ways.
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Last updated: 2025/12/16 14:17