# misuse

/mɪsˈjus/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/misuse
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. wrong use

noun · CEFR B2

the act of using something in a way that is wrong, illegal, or not intended.

For teachers: the incorrect, improper, or unlawful use of a resource, power, or object.

- The misuse of company funds led to a serious investigation by the police.
- The report highlighted the widespread misuse of public data, suggesting that current privacy laws were insufficient to protect citizens.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'of'.

### 2. to use incorrectly

verb · CEFR B2

to use something in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose.

For teachers: to apply or utilise something in an incorrect or inappropriate manner.

- If you misuse the equipment, it might break and cause an accident.
- The researcher was accused of misusing the statistical data to support a conclusion that the evidence did not actually justify.

### 3. to mistreat

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to treat a person or an animal in a cruel or unfair way.

For teachers: to treat someone or something with cruelty or lack of care; to abuse.

- The king was known to misuse his servants, making them work long hours without food.
- Historical accounts suggest the governor frequently misused his subordinates, subjecting them to harsh conditions and arbitrary punishments.

Teaching tip: In modern English, 'mistreat' or 'abuse' is much more common for people; 'misuse' is usually reserved for objects or systems.

## Examples

- The misuse of this tool broke it.
- The misuse of technical terms often confuses readers who are new to the subject.
- The committee investigated the misuse of public funds, discovering that several projects had been funded without proper oversight or justification.

---

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.