misinformation
nounUK /ˌmɪs.ɪn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən/ · US /ˌmɪs.ɪn.fɚˈmeɪ.ʃən/
Etymology From mis- + information.
1
Information that is incorrect, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
- spread misinformation on the internet
- My intent is not to criticize an unpublished biology paper, but only to demonstrate the ease with which misinformation can creep into popular literature.1983, Richard Ellis, The Book of Sharks, Knopf, →ISBN, page 87:
4 more examples
- The Panther Moderns allowed four minutes for their first move to take effect, then injected a second carefully prepared dose of misinformation.1984, William Gibson, chapter 4, in Neuromancer (Sprawl; book 1), New York, N.Y.: Ace Books, →ISBN, page 62:
- Liara: Although we seek to understand other species, it seems few of them seek to understand us. The galaxy is filled with rumors and misinformation about my people.2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Normandy SR-1:
- Mark Zuckerberg said he regretted dismissing concerns about the Facebook’s role in influencing the US presidential race, his latest acknowledgement that misinformation on the platform has affected elections.2017 September 28, Sam Levin, “Mark Zuckerberg: I regret ridiculing fears over Facebook's effect on election”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 27 Feb 2025:
- As someone who studies the impact of misinformation on society, I often wish the young entrepreneurs of Silicon Valley who enabled communication at speed had been forced to run a 9/11 scenario with their technologies before they deployed them commercially.2019 September 1, Claire Wardle, “Misinformation Has Created a New World Disorder”, in Scientific American, archived from the original on 01 Apr 2025:
- Derived terms
- misinform, misinformational, misinformer, mythinformation
- Related terms
- misinform