misnomer

[ mis-noh-mer ]

noun

1. a misapplied or inappropriate name or designation.
2. an error in naming a person or thing.

misnomer

/ ˌmɪsˈnəʊmə /

noun

1. an incorrect or unsuitable name or term for a person or thing
2. the act of referring to a person by the wrong name

Confusables Note

Misnomer is not a fancy, more elevated word for mistake. Nor is it a synonym for misstatement, misconception, or misunderstanding. As the word's Latin etymon nōmināre (“to name”) tells us, a misnomer is a special kind of mistake: a wrong name. The consequences of a mistake can range from trivial to catastrophic—from typos to train wrecks. But a misnomer is often just embarrassing, like trying to impress a friend by referring to a Burgundy wine as a “Bordeaux.” Sometimes, however, what began as a misnomer has become a standard term: the game of Chinese checkers does not come from China; the funny bone is a nerve, not a bone; hay fever is not caused by hay and is not a fever; and a pregnant woman's morning sickness can occur at any time of day. Other kinds of mistakes or misunderstandings—giving a driver wrong directions, thinking that the earth is flat, drawing an erroneous conclusion—are not misnomers. In fact, the word misnomer when used to describe a behavioral mistake or a misperception of reality is itself a misnomer!

Word History and Origins

Origin of misnomer¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Anglo-French, noun use of Middle French mesnomer “to misname,” equivalent to mes- negating prefix + nomer “to name, call by name,” from Latin nōmināre; mis- ¹, nominate

Word History and Origins

Origin of misnomer¹

C15: via Anglo-Norman from Old French mesnommer to misname, from Latin nōmināre to call by name

Example Sentences

Beyond that, choosing the best gardening bench—something of a misnomer, because it’s more table than bench—comes down to your particular needs.

From Popular-Science

Among this rarefied group, ProPublica found, the term “individual retirement account” has become a misnomer.

From ProPublica

Workers “at the Mercy of” TOSHA and EmployersWhen Stanberry was injured in 2016, TOSHA conducted what’s called a rapid response investigation, but the term is a misnomer, as it doesn’t involve sending an inspector to the site to interview workers.

From ProPublica

To describe the Ivy as a “hotel” is something of a misnomer.

From Washington Blade

Colugos are also called “flying lemurs,” which is a misnomer because they cannot fly and they are not lemurs.

From Science News

The wrestling worthy accessory is a bit of a misnomer—there is no cheekily exposed skin in this full-coverage contraption.

From The Daily Beast

But its title is a misnomer: The far-from-renegade Gay is a very good feminist.

From The Daily Beast

The sad thing is to see this misnomer being promulgated by gays themselves.

From The Daily Beast

The phrase “kids for cash” is something of a misnomer, according to May.

From The Daily Beast

Part of the reason for the bid-ask gap stems from the fact that calling Miramax or MGM a "studio" is a misnomer.

From The Daily Beast

Yet the word vagrant is a misnomer in this city, where economy has reached a finesse that is marvelous.

From Project Gutenberg

The popular term in French and English of “medicine men” is not such a misnomer as might be supposed.

From Project Gutenberg

To speak of a Vee-Boer having household gods may seem a misnomer, since he never has a house.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps it was a misnomer for the party in favor of a broad national construction of the Constitution.

From Project Gutenberg

The Atlantic Ocean is geographically a misnomer, socially and politically a dwindling superstition.

From Project Gutenberg