misalignment
noun
mis·align·ment
ˌmis-ə-ˈlīn-mənt 
plural misalignments
: the condition of being out of correct position or improperly adjusted : bad or incorrect alignment
Over time, because of damage and wear, typewriters develop faults and misalignments that render their typescript unique.—
Laney Salisbury et al.
Laney Salisbury et al.… overuse injuries are all too often the consequence of poor technique or misalignment of body parts.—Jane E. Brody
Jane E. BrodyExamples of misalignment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Knee-assist devices and exoskeletons often use simple bearings placed near the knee, which can create painful misalignment because a real knee hinges but also shifts, rolls, and slides.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
Many people who are more active at night, stay up and wake later are subject to circadian misalignment, meaning their internal clocks aren’t necessarily compatible with real-world demands like waking up early for work.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 9 Feb. 2026
The apparent misalignment disappeared.
—John Paul, The Providence Journal, 7 Feb. 2026
Perhaps Copeland’s career was simply a series of misalignments.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misalignment
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Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
Many people who are more active at night, stay up and wake later are subject to circadian misalignment, meaning their internal clocks aren’t necessarily compatible with real-world demands like waking up early for work.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 9 Feb. 2026
The apparent misalignment disappeared.
—John Paul, The Providence Journal, 7 Feb. 2026
Perhaps Copeland’s career was simply a series of misalignments.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misalignment
Cite this Entry
“Misalignment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misalignment. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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