misdirection

About 0.16 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun An act of misleading, of convincing someone to concentrate in an incorrect direction.

   The magician used misdirection to get us to watch his left hand while he did something with his right hand.

2. noun Movement or tendency in the wrong direction.
3. noun An error of law within a judgement committed by a judge or judges of a lower court, particularly as found by an appeals court.

Similar words

diversion misappropriation embezzlement malfeasance mismanagement error mistake misuse misleading mislead

Often followed by

of and in by to is or on that

Word family

misdirections