mis ‧ ap ‧ ply /ˌmɪsəˈplaɪ/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle misapplied , present participle misapplying , third person singular misapplies ) [transitive usually passive]
to use something incorrectly or for a wrong purpose:
In your case the rules have been misapplied.
—misapplication /ˌmɪsæpləˈkeɪʃ ə n, ˌmɪsæplɪˈkeɪʃ ə n/ noun [uncountable] :
a misapplication of the law