misunderstand
verbUK /mɪs.ʌn.də(ɹ)ˈstænd/
Etymology From Middle English mys-understanden, equivalent to mis- + understand.
1
To understand incorrectly, while believing one has understood correctly.
- We found that teen drivers and the public largely misunderstand the legal status of cannabis use and do not fully recognize the risks of cannabis-impaired driving.2024, NTSB, Intersection Crash Between Passenger Car and Combination Vehicle, Tishomingo, Oklahoma, March 22, 2022:
- Synonyms
- take the wrong way
- Derived terms
- misunderestimate, misunderstandable, misunderstander, misunderstanding, misunderstandingly
- Related terms
- misinterpret