misreckon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C2/Rare)Formal, Archaic, Literary
Quick answer
What does “misreckon” mean?
To calculate or estimate incorrectly.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To calculate or estimate incorrectly; to make an error in judgment.
To form an incorrect opinion, expectation, or conclusion about something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The word is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Sounds archaic or deliberately formal. Can have a poetic or rustic feel.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical or literary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “misreckon” in a Sentence
transitive (misreckon something)intransitive (rare: 'I have misreckoned.')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “misreckon” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The general grievously misreckoned the enemy's resolve.
- He had misreckoned the total, forcing a revision of the budget.
American English
- The pollsters misreckoned the public's mood ahead of the election.
- Do not misreckon the difficulty of the trail.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in formal reports about forecasting errors: 'The board misreckoned the market's volatility.'
Academic
Rare, used in historical or literary analysis to describe characters' errors in judgment.
Everyday
Virtually never used in spoken English.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts; 'miscalculate' is the standard term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “misreckon”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “misreckon”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “misreckon”
- Using it in modern speech instead of 'miscalculate' or 'misjudge'.
- Spelling as 'misrecon'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare and considered archaic or highly formal. 'Miscalculate' or 'misjudge' are the standard modern words.
They are near synonyms. 'Misreckon' is older and can imply a broader error in judgment, not just numerical calculation. 'Miscalculate' is strictly about incorrect calculation and is the modern standard.
Rarely. Its typical use is transitive (misreckon something). An intransitive use like 'I have misreckoned' is possible but archaic.
No. It is a C2-level recognition vocabulary item. Learners should understand it when encountered in older texts but use 'miscalculate' or 'misjudge' in their own speech and writing.
To calculate or estimate incorrectly.
Misreckon is usually formal, archaic, literary in register.
Misreckon: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪsˈrek.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɪsˈrek.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To reckon without one's host (older idiom meaning to misreckon, to fail to consider all factors).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MISS' + 'RECKON' (a Southern US/informal word for 'think'). You 'MISS' the correct 'RECKONING' (calculation).
Conceptual Metaphor
THINKING/PLANNING IS ACCOUNTING (to miscount, to get the sum wrong).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'misreckon' most appropriately?