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Misidentify - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

misidentify

/ˌmɪs.aɪˈdɛn.tə.faɪ/ /ˌmɪs.aɪˈdɛn.tɪ.faɪ/

Definition:

To incorrectly recognize or label someone or something as another person or thing.

Synonyms:

confuse, mistake, mix up, mislabel

Part of Speech:

verb

Antonyms:

identify correctly, recognize accurately

Common Collocations:

misidentify a suspect, misidentify a species, misidentify a cause

Derivatives:

misidentification, misidentified

Usage Tips:

Ensure context is clear to avoid confusing similar-looking objects or people when using "misidentify."

Common Phrases:

mistaken identity, wrong end of the stick, off the mark

Etymology:

Derived from "mis-" (wrongly) + "identify," originating from Latin "identificare" (to make identical).

Examples:

  • 1. The witness misidentified the suspect in court.
  • 2. Students often misidentify similar-looking words in vocabulary tests.
  • 3. Scientists must not misidentify species during research to avoid errors.
  • 4. She apologized after realizing she had misidentified her colleague in the email.

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