misquotation
Incorrectly repeated words
A misquotation is an inaccurate rendering of someone's words—whether through error, faulty memory, or deliberate distortion.
Many famous quotations circulate in misquoted form: The misquotation "Play it again, Sam" never actually appears in Casablanca.
The word also describes the act of quoting incorrectly: His misquotation of the statute undermined his argument.
Crediting the wrong source
- inaccuracyLack of precision
- misstatementIncorrect assertion of fact
- mistakeWrong action or decision
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
slip · gaffe · erratum · oversight · flaw · fault · inexactness · garbling
False data spread unintentionally
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- fake newsIntentionally deceptive media content
- half-truthDeceptive incomplete statement
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
spin · rumor · fabrication · hoax · clickbait · smear · slander · defamation
Incorrectly assigned origin
- spuriousFalse though appearing genuine
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
- legendaryFamous beyond ordinary measure
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
myth · urban legend · chestnut · oft-repeated · viral · false attribution
False or misleading statement
- twistingRotating with distortion
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- alterationAct of modifying
- falsificationDeliberate alteration of truth
slanting · spin · skewing · perversion · warping · contortion · exaggeration · embellishment
Assigning origin or cause
- sourcingObtaining from suppliers
- citationMention of a source
- verificationProving something accurate
- fact-checkingConfirming accuracy of claims
accuracy · clarification · rectification · retraction · erratum · footnote · reference · verbatim
Satirical imitation
- satireMockery exposing vice
- lampoonHarsh public mockery
- spoofComic exaggerated imitation
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
caricature · send-up · comedic · joke · wit · punchline · irony · meme
Restating in different terms
- rephrasingRestating in other words
- restatementRewording of something said
- paraphrasingRestating in new words
- renditionPerformed version of work
interpretation · adaptation · gloss · approximation · loose translation · summarization · condensation · abridgment
misattribution
Crediting the wrong source
- inaccuracyLack of precision
- misstatementIncorrect assertion of fact
- mistakeWrong action or decision
blunder · slip · gaffe · erratum · oversight · flaw · fault · inexactness · garbling · bungling
misinformation
False data spread unintentionally
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- fake newsIntentionally deceptive media content
- half-truthDeceptive incomplete statement
disinformation · spin · rumor · fabrication · hoax · clickbait · smear · slander · defamation · yellow journalism
misattributed
Incorrectly assigned origin
- spuriousFalse though appearing genuine
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
- legendaryFamous beyond ordinary measure
folklore · myth · urban legend · chestnut · oft-repeated · viral · false attribution
misrepresentation
False or misleading statement
- twistingRotating with distortion
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- alterationAct of modifying
falsification · slanting · spin · skewing · perversion · warping · contortion · exaggeration · embellishment · sensationalism
attribution
Assigning origin or cause
- sourcingObtaining from suppliers
- citationMention of a source
- verificationProving something accurate
fact-checking · accuracy · clarification · rectification · retraction · erratum · footnote · reference · verbatim · fidelity
parody
Satirical imitation
mockery · caricature · send-up · comedic · joke · wit · punchline · irony · meme · internet humor
rewording
Restating in different terms
- rephrasingRestating in other words
- restatementRewording of something said
- paraphrasingRestating in new words
rendition · interpretation · adaptation · gloss · approximation · loose translation · summarization · condensation · abridgment
- media ethicsjournalism ethics, media ethics, media bias, journalistic ethics, journalistic integrity
- misunderstandingsmisunderstanding, misinterpretation, misconception, misreading, miscommunication
- text errorstypo, misspelling, misprint, spelling mistake, missing letter