misconception

noun

mis·​con·​cep·​tion ˌmis-kən-ˈsep-shən How to pronounce misconception (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Inconsistent Data Integrity Because of the name ‘artificial intelligence,’ there is a common misconception that AI is capable of original thought. Maria Williams, USA Today, 13 May 2025 And there's a (misconception) that these Pop Artists were having fun and being clever and not showing their soul. Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025 Fans and reporters often have misconceptions about what an NHL head coach does. Arthur Staple, New York Times, 2 May 2025 Books Tina Knowles sets the record straight: ‘People have so many misconceptions about my family’ April 22, 2025 What happened next was like a Nora Ephron script rewritten by John Cassavetes. Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for misconception

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of misconception was in 1614

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Misconception.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misconception. Accessed 17 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

misconception

noun
mis·​con·​cep·​tion
ˌmis-kən-ˈsep-shən
: a wrong or mistaken idea

More from Merriam-Webster on misconception

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!