misplace

Misplace is a transitive verb meaning to put something in the wrong location or to lose track of it temporarily. It is commonly used for ordinary objects such as keys, documents, or phones, suggesting that the item can be found again. The term contrasts with lose, which can imply permanent loss. The noun form misplacement refers to the act or instance of placing in the wrong location, or the state of being misplaced, and the related adjective is misplaced.

Etymology and forms: Misplace derives from the prefix mis- meaning wrong or incorrectly and the noun place. It has been in use since the 15th century. Related forms include mislaid (past tense in some dialects), misplacing, and misplaced.

Usage and nuance: Misplace emphasizes an error in location with the expectation that the item will be recoverable. It is often used with everyday objects, though it can also be used metaphorically to describe misplaced beliefs, trust, or priorities—where something valued is attributed to the wrong source or priority.

Examples: I think I mislaid my keys somewhere in the house. The document was misplaced during filing. His confidence in the project was misplaced. She recognized the misplacement of priorities in the plan.

See also: mislay, misfile, misplaced, misplacement, loss, memory lapse.