Misuse

Pronunciation: /mɪsˈjuz/

Definitions of misuse

noun the incorrect or improper use of something

Example Sentences

A1 Misuse of the company's resources is not allowed.

A2 The teacher explained the misuse of punctuation marks.

B1 The misuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance.

B2 The misuse of power by government officials is a common problem.

C1 The misuse of statistics in the research study was discovered during the peer review process.

C2 The misuse of social media platforms for spreading misinformation is a growing concern in today's society.

verb to use something incorrectly or improperly

Example Sentences

A1 She was warned not to misuse the company's funds.

A2 It is important not to misuse the information provided.

B1 The teacher explained the consequences of misusing classroom materials.

B2 The new policy was implemented to prevent the misuse of resources.

C1 The investigation revealed a pattern of misuse of power within the organization.

C2 The CEO was accused of knowingly allowing the misuse of company assets.

Examples of misuse in a Sentence

formal The misuse of company funds is strictly prohibited.

informal Please don't misuse the office printer for personal use.

slang Stop misusing your privileges at work.

figurative He felt like he was misusing his talents by staying in a job he didn't enjoy.

Grammatical Forms of misuse

• past tense: misused
• plural: misuses
• comparative: more misuse
• superlative: most misuse
• present tense: misuse
• future tense: will misuse
• perfect tense: has misused
• continuous tense: is misusing
• singular: misuse
• positive degree: misuse
• infinitive: to misuse
• gerund: misusing
• participle: misused

Origin and Evolution of misuse

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'misuse' originated from the combination of the prefix 'mis-' meaning 'badly' or 'wrongly' and the word 'use' which refers to the act of employing something for a specific purpose.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'misuse' has retained its original meaning of using something incorrectly or inappropriately. However, with the evolution of society and technology, the concept of 'misuse' has expanded to include various forms of abuse, exploitation, and manipulation.