misnomer

noun

mis·​no·​mer ˌmis-ˈnō-mər 

1

: the misnaming of a person in a legal instrument

2

a

: a use of a wrong or inappropriate name

Nowadays it is a misnomer to call a farmer a peasant.

b

: a wrong name or inappropriate designation

The name "Greenland" is a misnomer, since much of the island is covered by a massive ice sheet.

misnomered

ˌmis-ˈnō-mərd 

adjective

Did you know?

Don't Mistake the Meaning of Misnomer

What’s in a name? Well, in some cases, a name will contain an error, a misunderstanding, or a mislabeling. Historians have long noted that the Holy Roman Empire was not holy, nor Roman, nor an empire. The Battle of Bunker Hill was actually fought on Breed’s Hill. And the Pennsylvania Dutch are in fact of German ancestry. For such cases, we have the term misnomer, which can refer both to the use of an incorrect or inappropriate designation (as in “it’s a misnomer to call an orca a ‘killer whale’”) or to the designation itself. Regardless, there’s no mistaking the source of misnomer: it comes from the Anglo-French verb mesnomer (“to misname”) and ultimately has its roots in nomen, the Latin word for “name.”

Examples of misnomer in a Sentence

“International Airport” is something of a misnomer, since almost all the arriving and departing flights are local.

Recent Examples on the Web

Thought to have been brought to North America by European settlers, the name may be a bit of a misnomer. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025

Suggesting the 1995-96 Premier League campaign belonged to Tony Yeboah (and not Alan Shearer — sorry, Alan) might be a misnomer but, for a couple of glorious months as late summer turned towards autumn in 1995, Yeboah really did feel to be the only show in town. —The Athletic Uk Football Writers, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024

One of the most common misnomers of football fans and others around the league is that these average annual salaries are going to be spread evenly throughout the duration of a contract. —Vincent Frank, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024

One of the quickest ways to also cause your furnace to fail is to run it beyond its capacity, Schutt says, adding there's a misnomer that the air inside your home will be warmer if the thermostat is at a higher set point. —Alexandria Burris, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English misnoumer, from Anglo-French mesnomer, from mes- mis- + nomer to name, from Latin nominare — more at nominate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

misnomer

noun

mis·​no·​mer (ˈ)mis-ˈnō-mər 

: a wrong or unsuitable name

Legal Definition

misnomer

noun

mis·​no·​mer ˌmis-ˈnō-mər 

: the misnaming of a person in a legal document or proceeding (as in a complaint or indictment)

specifically : the institution of proceedings against and service of process on the correct party using the incorrect name compare idem sonans

Note: Amendment of the pleadings is generally allowed in cases of misnomer.

Etymology

Anglo-French mesnomer, from mesnomer to misname, from Middle French mes- wrongly + nommer to name, from Latin nominare, from nomin-, nomen name