What does miscompute mean?
Miscompute means to calculate something incorrectly. The word is especially common in computing, science, engineering, and finance, where an erroneous calculation can affect a measurement, program, budget, or conclusion. It may describe the process of making the error, as in “the formula miscomputes the average,” or the occurrence of an incorrect result, as in “the device miscomputed the distance.” The prefix “mis-” clearly marks the failure, while “compute” identifies the activity as calculation. Although the expression is more specialized than “get something wrong,” it is useful because it identifies the precise nature of the mistake without implying carelessness, deception, or dishonesty. In everyday conversation, “miscalculate” or “miscount” may sound more natural, but “miscompute” is particularly apt for calculations performed by machines or formal mathematical procedures.
verbTo calculate or compute something incorrectly.
- To calculate or compute something incorrectly.
"A rounding error caused the program to miscompute the final total."
"The faulty sensor caused the system to miscompute the distance travelled."
"She checked her work after realizing that she had miscomputed the exchange rate."
Miscompute is the useful confession of a machine—or person—that got the mathematics wrong.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does miscompute come from?
The word combines the English prefix “mis-,” meaning “wrongly,” with “compute,” “to calculate.” Compute entered English in the early 17th century from Latin computare, meaning “to reckon” or “calculate,” with roots also reflected in words such as account, accountant, and computer. Miscompute was formed in English by applying the productive prefix “mis-” to compute.
Related word forms
How miscompute is actually used
The term is common in technical, scientific, and financial contexts, where precision matters. It may refer either to a procedural error or to the incorrect result of a computation.
Easily confused with miscompute
Miscompute refers to an incorrect calculation, whereas miscount generally means to count incorrectly or to give the wrong number of items.