Word or term that suggests a meaning that is known to be wrong
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A misnomer is a name that is incorrectly or unsuitably applied.[1] Misnomers often arise because something was named long before its correct nature was known, or because an earlier form of something has been replaced by a later form to which the name no longer suitably applies. A misnomer may also be simply a word that someone uses incorrectly or misleadingly.[2] The word "misnomer" does not mean "misunderstanding" or "popular misconception",[2] and a number of misnomers remain in common usage — which is to say that a word being a misnomer does not necessarily make usage of the word incorrect.
^Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged (12th ed.). HarperCollins. 2014.
^ abGarner, Bryan (2009). Garner's Modern American Usage (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 542. ISBN 978-0-19-538275-4.
A misnomer is a name that is incorrectly or unsuitably applied. Misnomers often arise because something was named long before its correct nature was known...
Aramaic studies, and persisted up to the nineteenth century. The "Chaldean" misnomer was consequently abandoned, when further research showed conclusively that...
Misnomer Point is the ice-free tipped point projecting 400 m westwards from the northwest coast of Alfatar Peninsula, Robert Island in the South Shetland...
Misnomer Dance Theater is a modern dance company based in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 1998 by Artistic Director and choreographer Chris Elam. In addition...
which is still referred to as "tin foil" in many regions (an example of a misnomer). Foil made from a thin leaf of tin was commercially available before its...
change List Given Surname Namesake Naming taboo Nomenclature Nomen nescio Misnomer Onomastics -onym Personal identity Identifier Proper name Signature Monogram...
description of Down syndrome. The term idiot savant was later described as a misnomer because not all reported cases fit the definition of idiot, originally...
simple. Strictly speaking, the use of "science" in "rocket science" is a misnomer since science is about understanding the origins, nature, and behavior...
Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather...
usually devoid of a theater setting, making the term "operating theater" a misnomer in those cases. Operating rooms are spacious, in a cleanroom, and well-lit...
herding dog from the United States. The name of the breed is technically a misnomer, as it was developed in California in the 19th century. It is believed...
change List Given Surname Namesake Naming taboo Nomenclature Nomen nescio Misnomer Onomastics -onym Personal identity Identifier Proper name Signature Monogram...
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, also called the Staffy or Stafford, is a purebred dog of small to medium size in the terrier group that originated in the...
A Woods Hole spritsail boat is a small sailing and rowing craft, constructed entirely of wood, and fastened with iron or copper. It was used historically...
low-velocity gunshot to the knee pit with a handgun. The term is considered a misnomer by medical professionals because only a very small minority of victims...
change List Given Surname Namesake Naming taboo Nomenclature Nomen nescio Misnomer Onomastics -onym Personal identity Identifier Proper name Signature Monogram...
In gridiron football, a line of scrimmage is an imaginary transverse line (across the width of the field) beyond which a team cannot cross until the next...
Teleforce is a proposed defensive weapon by Nikola Tesla that accelerated pellets or slugs of material to a high velocity inside a vacuum chamber via electrostatic...
designs, they are often displayed as ordinary figurines. (Stopper is a misnomer, as they are not inserted into the container.) Art portal Anime portal...
railway vehicles is a train (this term applied to a locomotive is a common misnomer). In North America, Australia and other countries, the term consist (/ˈkɒnsɪst/...
The ferns (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta) are a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds...
an 'A' for effort, but to call what he does in this movie 'acting' is a misnomer. He does a lot of running around, occasionally falling down or bumping...
The lip plate, also known as a lip plug, lip disc, or mouth plate, is a form of body modification. Increasingly large discs (usually circular, and made...
stylistically by some Muslims, a vast majority consider the term archaic or a misnomer. The Oxford English Dictionary cites 1663 as the first recorded usage of...