Word
misrepresent
Phoneticsmis·rep·re·sent, stress on the fourth syllable
US/mɪsˌɹɛpɹəˈzɛnt/
UK/mɪsɹˌɛpɹɪzˈɛnt/
Definition
v. to describe someone or something in a way that is not true or fair. You use this when the picture you give misleads people.
v. to present a person, statement, or set of facts in a false or misleading way, whether deliberately or through distortion.
Examples
“Please do not misrepresent my words to the manager.”
“The article misrepresents the study by claiming the diet cures illness.”
“The lawyer argued that the tabloid had knowingly misrepresented her client's remarks to suggest support for a policy he had openly opposed.”
Examples
simple
“Please do not misrepresent my words to the manager.”
contextual
“The article misrepresents the study by claiming the diet cures illness.”
complex
“The lawyer argued that the tabloid had knowingly misrepresented her client's remarks to suggest support for a policy he had openly opposed.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “misrepresent” in context.
Verb
01. attempt to misrepresent
“He attempted to misrepresent the evidence in court.”
verb + to + verb
02. film misrepresent
“The film misrepresents the author's early life in Paris.”
noun + verb
03. media misrepresent
“The media misrepresents complex issues as simple scandals.”
noun + verb
Adjective
04. deliberately misrepresent
“Opponents claimed the ad deliberately misrepresents her voting record.”
adv + verb
05. fundamentally misrepresent
“Critics argue the film fundamentally misrepresents the peace talks.”
adv + verb
06. grossly misrepresent
“The article grossly misrepresents the study's conclusions.”
adv + verb
Noun
07. misrepresent evidence
“The defence said the prosecution misrepresented evidence to the jury.”
verb + noun
08. misrepresent history
“The textbook was withdrawn for misrepresenting history to suit ideology.”
verb + noun
09. misrepresent reality
“Social media posts often misrepresent reality for dramatic effect.”
verb + noun
10. accuse of misrepresenting evidence
“The lawyer was accused of misrepresenting evidence to the court.”
11. deliberately misrepresent rival views
“During the debate, he deliberately misrepresented his rival's views on immigration.”
12. grossly misrepresent the facts
“The broadcast was fined for grossly misrepresenting the facts about vaccines.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“It requires them to present and use data and statistics objectively and not to withhold or misrepresent data due to political or commercial influence.” “Leading AI assistants misrepresent news content in nearly half their responses, according to new research published on Wednesday by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the BBC.” “A judge on Wednesday dismissed Donald Trump’s lawsuit accusing The Des Moines Register and its former pollster of misrepresenting the state of the 2024 presidential race, rejecting the president’s claim that the newspaper’s poll coverage violated Iowa’s consumer fraud law.” “Three outdated and modified visuals depicting individuals in hazmat suits engaged in mass burials have been misrepresented in various online discussions concerning incidents of the lethal Nipah virus in West Bengal, a state in eastern India.” Etymology
From mis- + represent.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Word family
VERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/misrepresent