Words / B1

mis-LEED/ˌmɪsˈliːd/

To mislead is to make someone believe something that is not true. Misleading is the adjective (already in the dictionary). Lie is stronger and more deliberate. NHS boards: do not mislead patients about waiting times.

Meaning

To make someone believe something that is not true.

Examples

• “Do not mislead patients about waiting times on the board.”
• “A misleading graph can mislead the committee even if nobody intended it.”

Good to know

mislead someone (about). Adjective: misleading. Stronger: lie. Advertising / NHS / exams. Past: misled (not “misleaded”).

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