# mislead

/mɪˈsɫid/ (US) · /mɪslˈiːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mislead
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to deceive or give a false impression

verb · CEFR B2

to make someone believe something that is not true, often by giving them incomplete information.

For teachers: to cause someone to form an incorrect opinion or belief, whether through deliberate deception or unintentional ambiguity.

- The company was accused of trying to mislead customers about the price of the service.
- The witness was careful not to mislead the jury, though his testimony omitted several key details that might have changed their perspective.

Usage: Commonly used in the passive voice: 'to be misled by something'.

### 2. to lead in the wrong direction

verb · CEFR B2

to guide someone to the wrong place or make them go the wrong way.

For teachers: to lead astray or in a false direction, either physically or metaphorically.

- The old map misled us, and we ended up miles away from the hotel.
- The poorly marked trail misled the hikers into a dangerous ravine, requiring a rescue team to locate them after dark.

## Examples

- The advertisement might mislead customers about the actual price.
- The company was fined for using labels that could mislead shoppers into thinking the product was organic.
- While the statistics were technically accurate, the way they were presented was intended to mislead the public regarding the success of the new policy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.