Misled
/mɪsˈled/
Definitions
To lead someone to believe something that is not true, often intentionally.
/mɪsˈled/
To cause someone to have the wrong idea or impression.
The brochure's misleading information caused confusion among potential customers.
💡 Simply: Imagine your friend told you the pizza place was amazing, but it turned out to be terrible. They *misled* you! It means they gave you the wrong idea on purpose.
👶 For kids: When someone tells you something that isn't true and makes you think something different.
More Examples
He felt misled by the company's promises.
The detective knew the suspect was trying to mislead him with false clues.
She was misled into thinking the product was much cheaper than it was.
How It's Used
"The politician misled the public about the budget cuts."
"The witness was accused of misleading the jury."
From Middle English *misleden*, from Old English *mislǣdan* (“to lead astray, deceive”), equivalent to mis- + lead. The prefix “mis-” indicates error or wrongness.
The word 'misled' has been used in English since the Middle Ages, often in religious or moral contexts, to describe leading someone astray from the truth or a righteous path.
Memory tip
Think of someone being *mis*directed, like a lost traveler going the *wrong* way. It implies a purposeful error, often of deception.
Word Origin
"To lead astray, to deceive. Root: *mislǣdan*, mis- (wrongly) + lǣdan (to lead)"