misidentification (C1)

noun

Pronunciation: /ˌmɪsaɪˌdɛntɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

Definition

The act of incorrectly identifying someone or something, often leading to confusion or error.

Examples

• The witness admitted that her initial misidentification of the driver had caused the police to pursue the wrong person.

• Botanists warned that the misidentification of the poisonous plant could result in serious health risks for hikers.

• Frequent misidentification of the rare birds by amateur observers has complicated the accuracy of the wildlife census.

Synonyms of misidentification

Words with a similar meaning to misidentification:

• mistake
• confusion
• error
• misjudgment

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