misconception

mis·con·cep·tion | \ ˌmis-kən-ˈsep-shən

plural misconceptions

Definition of misconception

: 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

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Examples of misconception in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The survey asked 1,000 adults across the country about flu myths and misconceptions. — NBC News, "Millennials least likely to get a flu shot, and anti-vax beliefs may play a role," 16 Jan. 2020 Christina Reynolds, the vice president of communications at the political action committee EMILY’s List, says that the women running for president have found ways to overcome common negative misconceptions. — Molly Longman, refinery29.com, "The Case For Amy Klobuchar," 14 Jan. 2020 Maybe there’s a misconception that someone who owns real estate is a millionaire and can afford to lose money. — Leila Atassi, cleveland, "To solve our low-income housing crisis, the voucher system must work for landlords, too," 13 Jan. 2020 Yet there is a rising concern that genetic misconceptions are playing into divisive American attitudes about race. — Amy Harmon, New York Times, "Can Biology Class Reduce Racism?," 7 Dec. 2019 Attorney General Keith Ellison says Juul Labs is largely responsible for Hering and other teens’ misconception that e-cigarettes are safe and not addictive. — Christopher Magan, Twin Cities, "Minnesota sues Juul for targeting kids as reports of vaping-related injuries swell," 4 Dec. 2019 In The Automatic Millionaire, Batch reveals the money misconceptions society has conditioned us into believing and tells us the truth about the path to financial freedom. — Ashley Mcdonough, Essence, "8 Books You Need to Read to Get Your Money Right," 27 Nov. 2019 Many assumed the problem was because too many people were coming into the ER for bad colds, sprains and other minor issues — a misconception experts say remains today. — John Diedrich, jsonline.com, "Some busy hospitals say they must turn away ambulances. Here's how one state banned the practice," 22 Nov. 2019 About one in six, or 16%, of all transgender people live in rural areas, according to the report, which thwarts misconceptions of where pockets of discrimination may be sown. — Susan Miller, USA TODAY, "'We are not drag queens': For transgender people in 2019, a conflicted reality of breakthroughs, barriers," 19 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'misconception.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

22 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Misconception.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misconception. Accessed 24 January 2020.

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