misconception

noun

mis·​con·​cep·​tion ˌmis-kən-ˈsep-shən 

plural misconceptions

: a wrong or inaccurate idea or conception

a common/popular misconception

There's this misconception that you get famous and everything is perfect.

—Chris Daughtry

The new name, along with more stringent criteria for diagnosing the disorder, represents an attempt to clear up misconceptions about the disorder and to have it taken more seriously by psychiatrists as well as the courts.

—Janny Scott

Many gardeners are under the misconception [=have the mistaken idea] that bamboos grow only in mild climates.

—Nan Sterman

… artists, writers, and musicians who labor under the misconception that it's possible to come up with something new under the sun …

—Simon Reynolds

Synonyms

• delusion
• error
• fallacy
• falsehood
• falsity
• hallucination
• illusion
• misbelief
• myth
• old wives' tale
• untruth

Examples of misconception in a Sentence

it is a popular misconception that the Great Wall of China is visible from outer space

Recent Examples on the Web

Scrub-a-Dub in a Medieval Tub Contrary to popular misconceptions, Europeans in the Middle Ages took pains to keep themselves clean. —JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024

In Sacramento, Ramos said the hurdles include misconceptions about — and misclassifications of — Native people. —Emma Hall, Sacramento Bee, 20 June 2024

This might be a result of the misconception that condoms are primarily used to prevent pregnancy. —Leana S. Wen, Washington Post, 18 June 2024

One of Snap’s spokespeople met me for breakfast and tried to dissuade me of any vulgar misconceptions. —Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing misconception

• labor under a delusion/misapprehension/misconception
• labor under the misconception
• under the misconception

Kids Definition

misconception

noun

mis·​con·​cep·​tion

ˌmis-kən-ˈsep-shən

: a wrong or mistaken idea