misstated

Misstated is the past tense and past participle of misstate, meaning to express something incorrectly or to give a statement that is not accurate. A misstatement can involve numbers, facts, dates, or conclusions that do not reflect the intended reality.

Misstatements can be deliberate or accidental. In everyday language, "misstated" often reflects an error in reporting or recollection. In legal, financial, and journalistic contexts, distinctions are sometimes drawn between a misstatement (an incorrect statement, potentially due to error) and misrepresentation (an intentional false statement that may carry different legal implications). The term generally emphasizes inaccuracy rather than deceit, though intentional misstatements can have serious consequences.

Common usage includes phrases such as "The report misstated the year of the event" or "The witness misstated the amount of damages." Causes include misread data, transcription errors, rounding, or flawed interpretation. Correcting a misstatement typically involves issuing a correction, retraction, or updated figures.

Etymology: misstated is formed from the prefix mis- (wrongly) and the verb state, with the standard past tense ending. In many domains, recognizing and addressing misstated information is important for maintaining accuracy and reliability. See also misstatement, correction, retraction, and misrepresentation for related concepts.