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

Nintendo The Legend of Zelda has always been been a misnomer, and not only because the franchise’s game has had very little to do with Princess Zelda (or really any women) in any significant way. —Julie Muncy, WIRED, 2 Mar. 2017

From a brand rich in haute horology, calling a timepiece a sports watch is really a misnomer. —Roberta Naas, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024

However, the recent flurry of announcements by laptop OEMs and chip providers that power them has made that decision almost a misnomer. —Prakash Sangam, USA TODAY, 21 Sep. 2024

At its heart, Nobody Wants This is a misnomer, because when the two worlds collide, the palettes accentuate the best parts of each other. —Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 26 Sep. 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