What does misperception mean?
A misperception is a false belief, impression, or interpretation of a person, event, or situation. The term often implies that someone has understood something in an inaccurate or misleading way, even when the resulting belief appears plausible. It is frequently used in journalism, academic research, politics, and discussions of public opinion, where an accepted explanation may need to be challenged or corrected. Misperception is closely related to misconception, although it can suggest an error arising from how information was perceived rather than merely from faulty reasoning. The word is especially useful when discussing beliefs that persist despite evidence because they seem, to those who hold them, to reflect reality directly. Recognising a misperception can therefore require changing how people encounter and interpret evidence, not merely correcting the conclusion they have already reached.
nounA mistaken belief about or interpretation of something, especially a false perception of a situation, person, or set of facts.
- A mistaken belief, impression, or interpretation concerning a person, situation, event, or set of facts.
"The investigation revealed a widespread misperception about the cause of the decline."
"The apparent hostility of the crowd stemmed from a misperception of the speaker's intentions."
"Her research challenges the widespread misperception that the policy had little effect on public opinion."
The regular plural is formed by adding -s.
"The study identifies several persistent misperceptions about vaccination."
A misperception can be harder to correct than an outright error because it presents itself as a faithful view of reality.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does misperception come from?
Misperception was formed in English in the 19th century from the prefix mis-, meaning “wrongly” or “incorrectly,” and perception. Perception derives through Old French from Latin perceptio, a noun associated with percipere, “to perceive, seize, or understand.” Related English words include perceive, perceptible, and perceptive.
Related word forms
How misperception is actually used
Generally formal and especially common in journalism, academic writing, and public debate. It overlaps with “misconception,” but may more specifically suggest a belief formed through an inaccurate perception of evidence or circumstances.
Easily confused with misperception
Perception is the mental process of taking in and interpreting sensory information, whereas a misperception is an inaccurate interpretation or belief resulting from that process.