1. to identify someone or something incorrectly

Examples

• The witness misidentified the suspect in the lineup.
• Scientists initially misidentified the new species as a known variety.
• The security system misidentified her as an intruder.
• He misidentified the plant as poison ivy when it was actually Virginia creeper.
• The museum had misidentified the painting’s artist for decades.
• Police often misidentify innocent people during investigations.