Definition

1. Noun:

   • A typographical error: A mistake in printed text that occurs due to mechanical failure during the printing process, such as a missing, incorrect, or misplaced character.
   • An error in a published work: Any incorrect letter, word, or piece of text in a book, newspaper, or other printed material.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To print incorrectly: To produce a printed item containing a typographical error.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The first edition of the novel contained a famous misprint on page 56.
  • I found a misprint in the newspaper where "public" was spelled as "pubic".

• Verb:

  • The publisher misprinted the date on the title page.
  • If you misprint a key figure in the report, it could cause serious confusion.

Advanced Usage

• "to be riddled with misprints": To contain a large number of printing errors.

  • The hastily produced pamphlet was riddled with misprints.

• "a glaring misprint": An error that is very obvious and embarrassing.

  • The headline's glaring misprint made the newspaper issue a correction.

Variants and Related Words

• Typo (noun, informal): A short, common term for a typographical error, often used in digital contexts as well as print.

  • I sent the email before catching the typo in the subject line.

• Erratum (noun, formal): A formal notice of a printing error, often inserted into a published book.

  • The list of errata was included with the reprinted edition.

Synonyms

• Noun: Typographical error, typo, literal, printer's error.
• Verb: Print incorrectly.

Related Phrases

• "Correct a misprint": To fix a printing error.

  • The author asked the publisher to correct the misprint in the next printing.

• "Attribute to a misprint": To explain a strange or incorrect piece of text as being caused by a printing error.

  • The odd sentence was later attributed to a misprint.

Idioms

(This word is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions. Its meaning is quite literal.)

Noun

1. a mistake in printed matter resulting from mechanical failures of some kind

Verb

1. print incorrectly