Meanings
plural misapplications
- countableuncountableThe misuse of something, incorrectly using (applying) something, a wrong application.
Trying to open a paint can with a chisel is a misapplication of the tool.
1 more example
Julia Farrington, head of arts at Index on Censorship, argues that extra powers to ban violent videos online will "end up too broad and open to misapplication, which would damage freedom of expression".
2012 April 19, Josh Halliday, “Free speech haven or lawless cesspool – can the internet be civilised?”, in the Guardian
Synonyms & antonyms
nounthe fraudulent appropriation of funds or property entrusted to your care but actually owned by someone else
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*mey-?
- Proto-Indo-European*meyth₂-
- Proto-Germanic*missaz
- Proto-Germanic*missa-
- Proto-West Germanic*missa-
- Old Englishmis-
- Middle Englishmys-
- Englishmis-
- Latinapplicātiō
- Old Frenchaplicacion
- Middle Englishapplicacioun
- Englishapplication
- Englishmisapplication
From mis- + application.
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
misapplication. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/misapplication
“misapplication.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/misapplication. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “misapplication,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/misapplication.
Source: misapplication on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.