miscalculation

noun

mis·​cal·​cu·​la·​tion ˌmis-ˌkal-kyə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce miscalculation (audio)
plural miscalculations
: a mistake in calculation : wrong calculation
a costly miscalculation
… ruled that utility shareholders, not electricity consumers, must pay for some or all of the miscalculations that resulted in excessive expansion or cost overruns.Peter Nulty

Examples of miscalculation in a Sentence

treating her opponent as an intellectual lightweight was a serious miscalculation on her part
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The financial stakes at play highlight the magnitude of their miscalculation. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025 Bush’s miscalculation cost 4,431 American soldiers their lives, plus another 31,994 injured, plus 295,000 Iraqi lives. Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2025 The Iranian regime’s tragic miscalculations continue. Editorial, Boston Herald, 21 June 2025 These aren’t just innocent typos but often result in compliance breaches, miscalculations, and flawed reporting. Aleksandra Bal, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for miscalculation

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of miscalculation was in 1653

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Cite this Entry

“Miscalculation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miscalculation. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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