What does misinformed mean?
Misinformed means holding information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading, usually because someone has supplied incorrect facts or because a claim has been accepted without checking. The word is especially common in journalism, politics, education, and public debate. It differs from “uninformed,” which describes a person who lacks relevant information, and from “misleading,” which describes a statement or action that creates a false impression. Someone can be misinformed deliberately by others or unintentionally through unreliable sources, so the word does not by itself imply dishonesty. In discussions of elections, health, science, and public policy, being described as misinformed usually means that a person’s beliefs or arguments rest on incorrect claims. The related verb is “misinform,” meaning to give someone false or inaccurate information.
adjectiveHaving inaccurate, false, or misleading information about a matter. The term often implies that someone has been deliberately or unintentionally supplied with incorrect information.
- Having been given or having accepted false, inaccurate, or misleading information about a person, event, issue, or situation.
"The public was misinformed about the risks of the proposed policy."
"Many voters were misinformed about the changes to the electoral system."
"The spokesperson cautioned that the committee had been misinformed by the preliminary figures."
Being misinformed is not the same as being uninformed: misinformation can look authoritative while quietly steering the wrong way.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does misinformed come from?
The word is formed by combining the prefix “mis-,” meaning wrongly, with “informed.” The latter comes through the Latin “informare,” meaning to shape, instruct, or give information, and through the French “former,” meaning to instruct. The “mis-” combination developed a meaning equivalent to giving or receiving false information. Its cognates include “inform,” “information,” and “informative,” all of which share the same underlying sense of being given knowledge or guidance.
Related word forms
How misinformed is actually used
The adjective is common in journalism, politics, education, and public debate. It is usually more specific than “uninformed,” because it suggests that incorrect information has been received or accepted. It does not necessarily mean that the person acted in bad faith.
Easily confused with misinformed
Misleading describes information or conduct that creates a false impression, whereas misinformed describes a person who holds inaccurate information.
Uninformed describes someone who lacks relevant information, while misinformed describes someone who has been given or has accepted inaccurate information.