misquotation

[ mis-kwoh-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of misquoting.
2. an instance or occasion of misquoting or of being misquoted.

Word History and Origins

Origin of misquotation¹

First recorded in 1765–75; mis- ¹ + quotation

Example Sentences

The fact-check flagged a misquotation that should have been rendered as a paraphrase.

From Washington Post

The scare was caused by a misquotation, but the coverage illustrated the anxieties surrounding smart gadgets.

From The Verge

The misquotation came from an opinion essay in The Wall Street Journal that has since been corrected.

From New York Times

O’Brien’s conversation often turns to literary quotation—and, at times, to lively misquotation.

From The New Yorker

The ploy of claiming misquotation is a particularly craven, and ancient, form of it.

From Seattle Times