misplay

[ noun mis-pley, mis-pley; verb mis-pley ]

noun
  1. a wrong or bad play.

  2. a play prohibited by the rules.

verb (used with object)
  1. to make an error or incorrect play on or with; play wrongly: The catcher misplayed the ball, allowing the base runner to score.

  2. to make a play on or with (a card, chess piece, etc.) prohibited by the rules.

Origin of misplay

1
An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; mis-1 + play

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use misplay in a sentence

  • But by misplaying the matter, Joe Sestak and President Obama are needlessly fueling a feeding frenzy.

    Obama's Crazy Clinton Mess | Eric Alterman | May 28, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • And no point made by a misplaying ball, if properly challenged, is valid, except at their option.

    Croquet | Anonymous
  • Here A's tour is merely transposed, and B gains an extra tour, so that in both cases the misplaying side loses one tour.

    Croquet | Anonymous
  • In case of accident or displace through a misplaying ball, it depends upon whether the ball is left or replaced.

    Croquet | Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for misplay

misplay

/ (ˌmɪsˈpleɪ) /


verb
  1. (tr) to play badly or wrongly in games or sports: the batsman misplayed the ball

noun
  1. a wrong or unskilful play

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012