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misnomer

[mis-noh-mer] / mɪsˈnoʊ mər /
NOUN
wrong term, inappropriate name
Synonyms
STRONGEST
inaccurate term inappropriate name mischaracterization misdesignation misidentification misleading name misleading term
STRONG
catachresis erroneous term malapropism misappellation misapplied name misclassification misusage wrong term
Antonyms
STRONG
accurate term appropriate name apt term correct term felicitous name perfect name precise term suitable name


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Colin Clark, the director of the Soufan Center, a nonprofit that focuses on foreign policy and terrorism, pointed out in an interview with PBS that the term “narco-terrorism” is a misnomer.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

Dickerson calls it a "misnomer" to dub areas low-risk: "Climate-related losses are impacting all parts of the state."

From Barron's ● May 11, 2026

In his 2021 essay about the AI algorithm capable of sending people to jail, he put his finger on the factor that makes the very term “artificial intelligence” a misnomer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2026

“Neighborhood” was a misnomer for the area I scouted, car windows up and doors locked.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 25, 2026

Escort officer was, actually, a bit of a misnomer.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

To promote the university’s core mission, the school must clarify its role on campus and challenge misnomers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 17, 2026

Fire departments operated and financed by local governments increasingly have become misnomers.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 19, 2021

“There’s been a lot of misnomers about these craft as covert spy tools. ‘Drone’ has become a negative term.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 1, 2014

In the sentence, “The Daily Mail is now the most popular online newspaper,” the “most popular” claim is the least of the misnomers.

From Slate ● Feb. 3, 2012

After it was drafted, Laura typed it up while Yoyo stood by, correcting her mother's misnomers and mis-sayings.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez



Vocabulary lists containing misnomer


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