misdefine
verb
mis·de·fine ˌmis-di-ˈfīn 
misdefined; misdefining
transitive verb
: to incorrectly identify or set forth the meaning of (something, such as a word) : to define wrongly
a term that is often misdefined in textbooks
… and misdefine what it means to engage in quid pro quo.
Olympia Meola
Olympia Meola
Word History
First Known Use
1813, in the meaning defined above