misconception

noun

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

My job as a historian is to dislodge misconceptions, not to entertain my students and not to make people feel comfortable. — Mark Kennedy, The Seattle Times, "Historians irked by musical ‘Hamilton’ escalate their duel," 4 Feb. 2019 Quinn Slobodian provides exactly that in Globalists, showing how neoliberal ideas grew from particular historical circumstances to global influence, while also correcting certain misconceptions about neoliberalism’s meaning and goals. — Patrick Iber, The New Republic, "How neoliberalism shapes the global economy and limits the power of democracies," 23 Apr. 2018 There are a lot of misconceptions around how to treat a rattlesnake bite. — Henry Robertson, Popular Mechanics, "How to Avoid and Treat Rattlesnake Bites," 9 Nov. 2018 There’s a lot of misconceptions out there on the costs. — Marialuisa Rincon, Houston Chronicle, "Villager Q & A: Gordy Bunch, chairman The Woodlands Township Board of Directors," 22 June 2018 Many Muslim young adults, including myself, believe that the first step is correcting the ignorance of our peers, to educate and inform on their misconceptions. — Ahmad Ibsais, Teen Vogue, "New Zealand's Mass Shooting is an Expression of the Violence Muslims Face Around the World," 15 Mar. 2019 This gets at a major misconception about female sexuality: People mistakenly think the line between being objectified and empowered is in the eye of the beholder. — Andrea Bartz, Marie Claire, "Sometimes I Exploit My Sexuality and I'm Not Sorry," 25 Feb. 2019 Another misconception that's been widely reported was that the motor would only last 100,000 kilometers (62,000 miles). — Matthew Jancer, Popular Mechanics, "Pride of the Valkyries," 29 Jan. 2019 Sulfate-free shampoos have become popular because of a misconception that the foaming agent may cause cancer, but no link has ever been established. — Allure, "The Skin-Care Glossary: A Comprehensive Guide to Everything You Need to Know," 17 Aug. 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.