misconception

noun

mis·​con·​cep·​tion ˌmis-kən-ˈsep-shən 

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

Synonyms

• myth
• delusion
• error
• illusion

Examples of misconception in a Sentence

it is a popular misconception that the Great Wall of China is visible from outer space

Recent Examples on the Web

What’s crazy is that the whole thing was a misconception. —Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025

That misconception must be eradicated from our society. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 2 Oct. 2025

Dupree was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome in 2020 and decided to use her platform to raise awareness and shut down misconceptions about the disorder. —Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025

But Gimbel argues one of the biggest misconceptions is conflating exposure to AI with displacement. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing misconception

• labor under a delusion/misapprehension/misconception
• labor under the misconception
• under the misconception

Rhymes for misconception

• apperception
• contraception
• interception
• misperception
• preconception
• conception
• deception
• exception
• inception
• perception
• reception
• intussusception

Kids Definition

misconception

noun

mis·​con·​cep·​tion

ˌmis-kən-ˈsep-shən

: a wrong or mistaken idea