misstate
C1Formal, Official, Legal
Definition
Meaning
To state incorrectly; to express a fact or detail in an inaccurate way.
To report, describe, or declare something with a false or misleading representation, often implying negligence or intent to deceive.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used for factual, numerical, or historical inaccuracies in communication. It implies a deviation from the truth, whether accidental or deliberate.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or form. Slightly more common in American legal and financial contexts.
Connotations
Carries a formal, serious, and often negative connotation in both varieties, suggesting error or potential misconduct.
Frequency
More frequent in American English, but well understood and used in British English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
NP ____ NP (The witness misstated the time.)NP ____ that-clause (The report misstated that profits had risen.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Cook the books (related to misstating financial data)”
- “Bend the truth (weaker, more general)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in audits and financial reporting; e.g., 'The company was fined for misstating its quarterly revenue.'
Academic
Used when critiquing flawed historical or scientific claims; e.g., 'The textbook misstates the causes of the conflict.'
Everyday
Rare in casual speech; used formally when accusing someone of an error; e.g., 'I believe you misstate what I said.'
Technical
Common in legal depositions, journalistic fact-checking, and official government testimony.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The minister was accused of misstating the unemployment figures to Parliament.
- If you misstate your qualifications on the application, it will be rejected.
American English
- The CEO could face charges for knowingly misstating the company's assets.
- The witness misstated the sequence of events under oath.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please don't misstate my words; I said 'maybe', not 'yes'.
- The article misstates several key facts about the new environmental policy.
- Auditors found that the firm had materially misstated its liabilities over three fiscal years.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: MIS (wrong) + STATE (to say) = to say something wrong. Like a mis-stated address will get your mail lost.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRUTH IS A STRAIGHT PATH / FALSEHOOD IS A DISTORTION. Misstating is 'bending' or 'twisting' the straight line of fact.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'недоговаривать' (to understate/conceal). 'Misstate' – это сказать неверно, а не сказать не всё.
- Не является прямым эквивалентом 'соврать' (to lie), так как может быть непреднамеренным.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing with 'understate' (to make seem less important).
- Using it for opinions rather than verifiable facts.
- Misspelling as 'mis-state' (hyphen is increasingly omitted).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'misstate' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be either an unintentional error or a deliberate falsehood. Context (e.g., 'accidentally misstated' vs. 'knowingly misstated') clarifies the intent.
'Misstate' is narrower, focusing on incorrect verbal or written statements. 'Misrepresent' is broader, covering any act (words, images, actions) that creates a false impression.
It's quite formal. In casual speech, people are more likely to say 'got it wrong', 'said it wrong', or 'lied about'.
Yes, 'misstatement'. Example: 'The document contained a serious misstatement of the law.'
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