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
Chris DaughtryThe 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
Janny ScottMany gardeners are under the misconception [=have the mistaken idea] that bamboos grow only in mild climates.—Nan Sterman
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
Simon ReynoldsExamples 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
Each volunteer visit is designed to bring joy and advocate for therapy animals, which includes addressing misconceptions.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
More than that, historians and experts say, there are misconceptions, chief among them that only gay men were impacted.
—Kate Sosin, Them., 31 Oct. 2025
The study underscores the need for better and more targeted public health messaging, particularly to address misconceptions held by avid drinkers.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Popping into a camp full of allies newly wary of the 428-year-old vampire in their midst, Regis begins by clearing up the misconception that he can be repelled by garlic, then drops a line about Jaskier’s blood smelling good.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misconception
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Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
More than that, historians and experts say, there are misconceptions, chief among them that only gay men were impacted.
—Kate Sosin, Them., 31 Oct. 2025
The study underscores the need for better and more targeted public health messaging, particularly to address misconceptions held by avid drinkers.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Popping into a camp full of allies newly wary of the 428-year-old vampire in their midst, Regis begins by clearing up the misconception that he can be repelled by garlic, then drops a line about Jaskier’s blood smelling good.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misconception
Cite this Entry
“Misconception.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misconception. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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