misidentify

This term describes a specific failure of recognition where an object or person is not merely unknown, but is actively assigned the wrong identity. It carries a connotation of error or fallacy, often appearing in legal, forensic, or scientific contexts where precision is paramount and a mistake can have serious consequences.

Because the word focuses on the act of incorrect labeling, it differs from "confuse," which suggests a general state of muddle or inability to distinguish between two things. Misidentification is a discrete event of wrong attribution, frequently resulting from superficial similarities or flawed memory.