What does mislabelling mean?
Mislabelling is the act of giving someone or something the wrong label, name, description, or category. The term is especially common in contexts where accuracy is important, including science, medicine, commerce, archives, and data management. A mislabelling may be a minor clerical error, such as an incorrectly named file, or a serious problem that causes samples, products, or research findings to be misidentified. Because a label communicates what a thing is or what it contains, an inaccurate label can make otherwise trustworthy information unreliable. The word can refer broadly to the practice of labelling incorrectly or to a particular erroneous label. In British English it is normally written “mislabelling,” whereas “mislabeling” is the usual American spelling. The related verb is “mislabel,” as in “They mislabeled the containers.”
nounThe act or instance of giving something an incorrect or misleading label. It can also refer to a label that has been attached to the wrong object or described inaccurately.
- The act of attaching an incorrect or misleading label to something.
- An instance in which a person, object, sample, or description is incorrectly identified or designated.
"A mislabelling of the samples led the researchers to draw the wrong conclusions."
"The pharmacist apologised for the mislabelling of the medication."
"Careful checks helped prevent the mislabelling of archived specimens."
Usually uncountable when referring to the general practice; pluralized when counting separate incidents.
"The inspector recorded several mislabellings on the production line."
One inaccurate label can make an otherwise reliable study or product recall misleading.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mislabelling come from?
“Mislabelling” combines the prefix “mis-,” meaning incorrectly, with “labelling.” “Label” entered Middle English from Anglo-French and ultimately derives from the Latin “labellum,” a diminutive of “labrum,” meaning lip. The same Latin root also gave rise to specialized English forms such as “labellum.”
Related word forms
How mislabelling is actually used
The form with two l’s is standard in British English, while American English commonly uses “mislabeling.” The word is usually uncountable when referring to the general practice, but plural forms are occasionally used for separate instances or incidents.