misconception

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

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of misconception

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

See misconception defined for English-language learners

See misconception defined for kids

Recent Examples of misconception from the Web

The biggest misconception is that cloth diapering is hard.

— erin sauder, Elgin Courier-News, "Down to Business: Protecting babies' bottoms (and other parts) goal of Green Lil' Bums," 13 Apr. 2018
What is the biggest misconception about your business?

— daina saleh, Naperville Sun, "Down to Business: Elevating the travel experience," 13 Apr. 2018
This year’s nominees were recognized for their work challenging misconceptions, dispelling stereotypes, and raising awareness of difficulties facing the LGBTQ community.

— Vogue, "Britney Spears Receives the Vanguard Award at the 2018 GLAAD Media Awards," 13 Apr. 2018
What’s the misconception about American and British English that drives you the craziest?

— mark peters, BostonGlobe.com, "Trousers and pants — stripping down British and American English," 7 Apr. 2018
Cons: Swirling around the mystique of Augusta are plenty of misconceptions.

— chris chase, For The Win, "Ranking the back nine holes at The Masters, from great to greatest," 5 Apr. 2018
Freeman notes that one of the biggest misconceptions of MS is that people with the disease cannot live full and happy lives.

— rebecca hazen, Houston Chronicle, "Multiple sclerosis comes in many faces," 4 Apr. 2018
Educational segments have included defining what autism spectrum disorder is, common misconceptions about ASD, the different parts of the autism spectrum and interviews with families and special educators directly impacted by autism.

— jake burrows, The Aegis, "CMW students stand up, raise money for AutismSpeaks," 3 Apr. 2018
The most common misconception by far, was that fat is converted to energy.

— ruben meerman and andrew brown, CNN, "Where fat goes when you lose weight," 26 Mar. 2018

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.