Standard Lemma guide

misidentify

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: M IH0 S AY0 D EH1 N T AH0 F AY2 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: M IH0 S AY0 D EH1 N AH0 F AY2 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To mistake the identity of (something or someone).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: confuse, mix up

2

verb

Meaning 2

identify incorrectly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Don't mistake her for her twin sister

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: mistake

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: identify

Narrower terms: confuse, confound

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *mey-? Proto-Indo-European *meyth2-der. Proto-Germanic *missaz Proto-Germanic *missa- Proto-West Germanic *missa- Old English mis- Middle English mys- English mis- English identify English misidentify From mis- + identify.