What does misidentify mean?
Misidentify means to identify something or someone incorrectly. The word is especially common when an observer mistakes one person, animal, plant, object, signal, or source for another, but it can also refer to an incorrect conclusion about the origin or nature of something. A typical use is “The eyewitness misidentified the driver,” while another is “The substance was misidentified as a harmless compound.” Because the prefix mis- explicitly marks an error, misidentify is more precise than simply saying that someone was “wrong” and conveys a mistake in the act of recognition or classification. The verb is formal but widely understood and is common in scientific reports, legal proceedings, journalism, safety investigations, and discussions of eyewitness testimony. It generally implies a mistaken identification rather than deliberate deception, although the surrounding context determines whether the mistake was negligent, careless, or intentionally misleading.
verbTo identify someone or something incorrectly, often as a different person, species, object, or source. It can also mean to mistake one thing for another.
- To identify someone or something incorrectly.
"The report was criticized for misidentify the main cause of the failure."
"Witnesses misidentified the suspect because the lighting in the parking lot was poor."
"The researchers warned that similar markings could cause observers to misidentify a rare species."
From eyewitness testimony to scientific fieldwork, misidentify captures a consequential mistake: confidently naming the wrong person, species, or source.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does misidentify come from?
Misidentify was formed in English by combining the prefix mis-, meaning wrongly or incorrectly, with identify. Identify comes through Medieval Latin from Latin identificare, a verb built from idem, meaning the same, and facere, meaning to make. The related words identification, identity, and identifiable belong to the same Latin root family, with their forms developing through English and Latin usage.
Related word forms
How misidentify is actually used
Misidentify is a formal, neutral verb used in academic, scientific, legal, journalistic, and professional contexts as well as ordinary speech. It is usually transitive and may be followed by “as” when stating what the wrong identification was: “misidentify the object as a meteorite.”
Easily confused with misidentify
Misidentify means to make an incorrect identification, whereas mislabel often means to attach the wrong label or name to something and may suggest deliberate or careless labeling.
Misidentify is a general error in identification, while misclassify specifically means to place something in the wrong category.