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 of misconception

• 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

These misconceptions obscure Zionism’s essential truth. —Elad Strohmayer, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026

Yet many individuals remain unregistered, often due to misconceptions or simply because the conversation has never happened. —Dr. Hiroshi Sogawa, Hartford Courant, 20 Apr. 2026

For aspiring writers scrolling through deal announcements on industry sites or social media, those vague labels can fuel both dreams and misconceptions. —Josh Rivera, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026

Any other assertion is a misconception. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing misconception

• labor under a delusion/misapprehension/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