What Is a Misnomer? | Meaning, Definition & Examples
Misnomer means an incorrect, unsuitable, or misleading use of a name or label. Misnomer is a noun, and it can also refer to the incorrect designation or name itself.
Calling it “Priority Boarding” was a misnomer, as everyone got on the same bus after we went through the boarding gate.
There are so many get-out clauses and restrictions that it is a misnomer to call this a “guarantee.”
In legal documents, such as contracts, it is especially important to make sure everything is correctly named. There are ways of correcting any misnomer in a document, and if the misnaming is deliberate, then an offense might have been committed.
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Misnomer examples
Misnomers abound in everyday use. Some are hangovers from previous objects (e.g., “tin can” from when cans were made from tin) or result from an incorrect understanding of the object (e.g., “fireflies” are beetles, but they appear to fly like flies).
| Misnomer | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Blackboard chalk | The “chalk” used now is gypsum, not chalk, and the boards might not be black. |
| Tinfoil | The metallic sheets used in cooking are now made from aluminum. |
| Golf “woods” | The golf clubs referred to as “woods” are almost exclusively made of metal or carbon fiber these days. |
| Koala bear | A koala is a marsupial, not a bear. |
| MOT test | In the UK, the MOT (“Ministry of Transport”) has not existed since 1970, but the annual vehicle safety test is still officially known as the “MOT.” |
| Pencil lead | The “lead” in a pencil is made from graphite, not lead. |
| Peanut | A peanut is not a nut but a type of legume. |
| Slow worm | Native to much of central and western Europe, the slow worm is neither a worm nor particularly slow. This snake-like reptile is actually a legless lizard. |
Frequently asked questions about misnomers
- How can I use misnomer in a sentence?
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Misnomer is a noun that refers to something being incorrectly or misleadingly labeled. You can use it to signify criticism (e.g., “I think calling it a ‘Help Desk’ was a misnomer—they were no help at all”) or humor (e.g., “Is there a more cruel misnomer than ‘self-cleaning oven’? Unless it means you have to clean it yourself!”).
Misnomer is quite easy to use in a sentence, because there aren’t many synonyms for it, and certainly none that are as concise and precise.
You can use misnomer to add interest to your writing to keep your readers engaged (e.g., “We waited ages to see the koala bears—a complete misnomer, dear reader, as they are marsupials—but it was well worth it!”).
Automatically rewrite your sentences to convey your meaning in different ways.
- What is a synonym for misnomer?
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There aren’t really any clear synonyms for misnomer as its meaning is unique. There are, however, some possible ways of expressing the same idea:
- Wrong name or title or label
- Inaccurate name or title or label
- Misleading term
QuillBot’s rewording tool can help you vary your written vocabulary.
- What is an example of a misnomer?
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There are some well-known examples of misnomers in common use, including:
- Peanut
- Lead pencil
- Tinfoil
- Dutch oven
- Light-year
You can easily check your spelling and grammar using the QuillBot Grammar Checker.
