misidentified
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /ˌmɪsˌaɪdɛnˈtɪfaɪd/
KK: /mɪsˈaɪdɛntɪfaɪd/
adjective
Definition
Describing something that has been recognized or named incorrectly.
Example
The suspect was misidentified by the witness during the police lineup.
Conversation
Did you hear about the case where the suspect was misidentified?
Yeah, it's crazy how that can happen in real life.
I can't believe they let that happen; it seems so unfair.
I know, it really shows the importance of careful investigations.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
misnamed
mistaken
erroneous
Antonyms
correct
accurate
identified
verb
Definition
To have incorrectly identified someone or something.
Example
The suspect was misidentified by the witness during the police lineup.
Tense Forms
Past: misidentified
Past Participle: misidentified
Conversation
Did you hear about that mix-up at the museum?
Yeah, I heard they misidentified some of the artwork.
It's crazy how that can happen, right?
Root Explanation
Misidentified → It is formed from "mis-" (meaning wrongly) and "identified" (from Latin "identificare", meaning to make identical or to recognize). The word "misidentified" means to wrongly recognize or classify something.
Memory Tip
Think of 'mis-' meaning wrongly, and 'identified' meaning recognized. This helps you remember that misidentified means something was recognized incorrectly.
Visually Confused Words
unidentified