PsychologySeptember 2, 2026

misattribute

mis-uh-TRIB-yoot

Definition

To wrongly assign the cause, origin, or source of something to an incorrect person, event, or factor.

Etymology

The word is derived from the prefix 'mis-' (wrongly) and the Latin 'attribuere' (to assign or bestow), entering English in the 17th century.

In the news

In the article, the author notes that people caught in 'what if' thinking misattribute the causes of their current struggles, failing to see how their own mental habits sustain the outcomes they lament.

“What If” Thinking Risks Present and Future, Psychologist Warns

Read the full article ↗

Daily Beirut

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