PoliticsJuly 16, 2026
mischaracterization
/ˌmɪskəˌræktəraɪˈzeɪʃən/
Definition
The act of presenting an idea, situation, or data in a misleading or inaccurate way, often to suggest wrongdoing where none exists.
Etymology
Derived from the prefix 'mis-' (wrongly) combined with 'characterize' (to describe the quality or nature of), stemming from the Greek 'kharaktēr'. It entered English usage to describe the distortion of facts or motives.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe how claims about non-citizen voting are often built on misunderstandings or inaccurate portrayals of data, rather than actual evidence of illegal activity.
Trump gives primetime speech on elections as White House alleges Chinese access to voter data
Read the full article ↗CBS News