To refer to something or someone incorrectly or inaccurately; to cite or mention with a lack of precision or in a way that leads to misunderstanding. This typically involves using the wrong name, title, label, or piece of information when speaking or writing about a specific subject or person. Misreferring can result from various factors, including ignorance, carelessness, memory lapses, or the use of outdated or incorrect resources. The consequence of misreferring can range from minor confusion to significant errors in documentation, research, or communication. It suggests an unintended act where the target item, person or concept is named or mentioned with the incorrect associated information, a lapse of precision in the referencing activity.
Misrefer meaning with examples
- During the historical lecture, the professor repeatedly *misreferred* to a crucial document by the wrong name, causing considerable confusion among the students. Later, the university archivist reported that the document was in fact named 'the declaration of human rights'.
- In his haste, the journalist *misreferred* to the CEO's title in the article, calling him a 'CFO' instead, which led to a flurry of corrections and a formal apology.
- The author *misreferred* to the scientific findings in their book, incorrectly stating the results of the experiment, which created incorrect discussion around the scientific study, necessitating a retraction and a significant rewrite.
- When preparing the presentation, the intern *misreferred* to the product launch date, listing the wrong launch year. This mistake led to many pre-orders being unable to make the correct date as a result of the mistake.
- The customer *misreferred* to the model number when placing the order, leading to shipment of the wrong item and significant delays in resolving the resulting customer support requests, leading to a poor experience for them.