noun · 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
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
US:/ˌmɪsˈmænɪd͡ʒmənt/
/ˌmɪsˈmænəd͡ʒmənt/weak vowel merger
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:M IH0 S M AE1 N IH0 JH M AH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The process or practice of managing ineptly, incompetently, or dishonestly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
Examples
The value of the firm's stock fell precipitously when word leaked out that officers of the company were under investigation for gross mismanagement.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
management that is careless or inefficient
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he accomplished little due to the mismanagement of his energies
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: misdirection
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: management, direction
Narrower terms: screwup
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 management English mismanagement From mis- + management.
Across languages
Translations
13 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Dutch:
wanbeleid
— the process or practice of managing ineptly, incompetently, or dishonestly
Finnish:
huono johtaminen
— the process or practice of managing ineptly, incompetently, or dishonestly
French:
mauvaise gestion
— the process or practice of managing ineptly, incompetently, or dishonestly
German:
Misswirtschaft
— the process or practice of managing ineptly, incompetently, or dishonestly
Irish:
míbhainistíocht
— the process or practice of managing ineptly, incompetently, or dishonestly
Irish:
drochbhainistiú
— the process or practice of managing ineptly, incompetently, or dishonestly
Italian:
cattiva gestione
— the process or practice of managing ineptly, incompetently, or dishonestly
Japanese:
失態
(shittai)
— the process or practice of managing ineptly, incompetently, or dishonestly
Norwegian Bokmål:
vanstyre
— the process or practice of managing ineptly, incompetently, or dishonestly
Norwegian Nynorsk:
vanstyre
— the process or practice of managing ineptly, incompetently, or dishonestly
Polish:
niegospodarność
— the process or practice of managing ineptly, incompetently, or dishonestly
Polish:
złe zarządzanie
— the process or practice of managing ineptly, incompetently, or dishonestly
Russian:
бесхозя́йственность
(besxozjájstvennostʹ)
— the process or practice of managing ineptly, incompetently, or dishonestly
