English · Word Candidate

misunderstanding

/ˌmɪsʌndəˈstændɪŋ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: misunderstandings

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A mistake as to the meaning of something or a specific point of view; erroneous interpretation or comprehension; misconception.

Noun

Examples

The worst distance between two people is misunderstanding. - Thoughtkick

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A disagreement; difference of opinion; dissension; quarrel.

Noun

Examples

It was only months and months afterwards, when I made the attempt to recover what was left of the body, that I heard the original quarrel arose from a misunderstanding about some hens.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “misunderstanding” mean?

A mistake as to the meaning of something or a specific point of view; erroneous interpretation or comprehension; misconception.

Is “misunderstanding” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.