Standard Lemma guide

misstate

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 S T EY1 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: M IH0 S T EY1 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To make a statement that is in error, inadvertently; to say (something) incorrectly, through a slip of the tongue.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Near-synonym: misreport
  • The speaker misstated the year of his grandfather's birth by a hundred years, but it was an honest mistake: how often does one speak of the 1800s?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: misreport

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

state something incorrectly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • You misstated my position

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: state, say, tell

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- Proto-Indo-European *steh2- Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Indo-European *stéh2-tu-s ~ *sth2-téw-s Proto-Italic *status Latin statuslbor. Old French estatbor. Middle English stat English state English misstate From mis- + state.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Māori: aweke — to make a statement that is wrong
  • Polish: przekręcać — to make a statement that is wrong
  • Polish: przekręcić — to make a statement that is wrong
  • Polish: przekłamywać — to make a statement that is wrong
  • Polish: przekłamać — to make a statement that is wrong