miscommunication: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Neutral, Technical
Quick answer
What does “miscommunication” mean?
A failure to communicate effectively, leading to misunderstanding or confusion.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A failure to communicate effectively, leading to misunderstanding or confusion.
A situation where information, intent, or meaning is not accurately transmitted, interpreted, or received, often resulting in errors, conflict, or inefficiency. The term can refer to a single instance or a pattern of poor communication.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. Both use the term identically.
Connotations
Neutral in both, though may carry a slightly more formal or technical tone in American business contexts.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “miscommunication” in a Sentence
[subject] + caused/led to/resulted from + miscommunicationThere was/has been a miscommunication + [about/concerning/regarding] + [topic]Miscommunication + between + [parties]To avoid/prevent miscommunication + [clause]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “miscommunication” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We seem to have miscommunicated the arrival time.
- To miscommunicate key details can be disastrous.
American English
- The teams miscommunicated on the project specs.
- It's easy to miscommunicate in a text message.
adverb
British English
- The message was miscommunicatively phrased. (extremely rare)
American English
- He explained the plan miscommunicatively. (extremely rare)
adjective
British English
- The miscommunicated instructions led to the error. (less common)
- A miscommunicative style (very rare).
American English
- We received miscommunicated data from the server. (less common)
- He has a miscommunicative approach. (very rare).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to analyse project failures, team conflicts, or client issues. E.g., 'The delayed launch was due to a miscommunication between marketing and development.'
Academic
Used in fields like linguistics, sociology, and organisational theory to describe systematic failures in information exchange.
Everyday
Used to explain social faux pas, arguments, or simple mistakes. E.g., 'Sorry I'm late, there was a miscommunication about the meeting time.'
Technical
Used in communication theory, software development (e.g., API errors), and air traffic control to denote a failure in the communication protocol.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “miscommunication”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “miscommunication”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “miscommunication”
- Spelling: 'miscomunication' (missing one 'm').
- Using it as a verb ('We miscommunicated yesterday' is less common; 'there was a miscommunication' is preferred).
- Confusing with 'misinformation' (false info) vs. 'miscommunication' (failed transmission).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are closely related, but 'miscommunication' emphasises the *failure in the communication process* that leads to the misunderstanding. A misunderstanding is the *result*; a miscommunication is often the *cause*.
The verb 'miscommunicate' exists but is less frequent than the noun form. It's more common to say 'There was a miscommunication' than 'We miscommunicated.'
Very common collocations include 'avoid miscommunication,' 'lead to miscommunication,' and 'a breakdown in communication' (which is a near-synonym).
Not necessarily. The term is often used neutrally to describe a systemic or process failure, rather than to assign blame to a specific person. It can arise from unclear channels, cultural differences, or ambiguous language.
A failure to communicate effectively, leading to misunderstanding or confusion.
Miscommunication is usually formal, neutral, technical in register.
Miscommunication: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪskəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɪskəˌmjunəˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A comedy of errors (can result from miscommunication)”
- “Talking past each other”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MISS-communication' – when communication 'misses' its target, you get MIScommunication.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS A CHANNEL/PATHWAY (A miscommunication is a break or blockage in that channel).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST definition of 'miscommunication'?