Miscalculate

Miscalculate is a transitive verb meaning to compute or estimate something wrongly, or to arrive at an incorrect result because of errors in arithmetic, data, or reasoning. The noun form is miscalculation, and the adjective form is miscalculated.

Etymology: the term combines mis- meaning wrongly with calculate, which itself derives from Latin calculare, from calx or calculus used in counting. The word is used across mathematics, science, and everyday contexts to describe errors in numeric judgment.

Usage and examples: In finance and budgeting, teams may miscalculate costs or revenues, leading to budget overruns. In engineering or logistics, miscalculating distances, quantities, or loads can cause design flaws or supply shortages. In research, miscalculations can affect statistical conclusions and decision making.

Causes and outcomes: Common causes include data entry or unit-conversion mistakes, rounding errors, flawed models, incorrect assumptions, or software bugs. Consequences range from minor discrepancies to significant financial losses, safety issues, or project delays.

Related terms: miscalculation (noun), miscalculate (verb), miscalibrate (to adjust something incorrectly), calculation error.

See also: estimation error, arithmetic error, error analysis.