misnomer

Meanings

Noun

• A use of a term that is misleading; a misname.
• A term that is misleading, even if it may not be incorrect.
• A term whose sense in common usage conflicts with a technical sense.
• something asserted not to be true; a myth or mistaken belief

Verb

• To use a misleading term; to misname.

Related

Opposite words

• aptronym

Origin

• From Middle English misnoumer, from Anglo-Norman mesnomer, noun use of Anglo-Norman and Old French verb mesnomer, from mes- + nomer (from Latin nōmināre).