mis

Mis is a prefix in English used to indicate error or wrongness. It attaches to verbs, adjectives, and sometimes nouns to form words that describe doing something wrongly or badly. Common examples include mislead, misinterpret, misplace, mispronounce, and miscalculate. The nuance generally signals unintentional or careless error, though exact meaning depends on context.

The mis- prefix derives from Old English and other Germanic sources, making it a native English formation. It is related to similar Germanic prefixes in other languages and is distinct from the Latin-derived prefix mal-, which often carries moral or more severe negative connotations. In use, mis- emphasizes error in action or process rather than moral judgment.

Usage notes: Most mis- compounds are written as single words (misread, misunderstand). Some older or less common forms may be hyphenated (mis-read), especially when clarity is needed. The prefix remains productive in modern English, enabling neologisms such as misalign and misbehave.

MIS also refers to Management Information Systems, a field combining information technology and business management. MIS studies the design, implementation, and use of information systems to support decision making, planning, and operations. It covers databases, reporting tools, and analytics, and is a common focus in business schools and IT departments.