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Synonyms

misconception

American  
[mis-kuhn-sep-shuhn] / ˌmɪs kənˈsɛp ʃən /

noun

  1. an erroneous conception; mistaken notion.

misconception British  
/ ˌmɪskənˈsɛpʃən /

noun

  1. a false or mistaken view, opinion, or attitude

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of misconception

First recorded in 1655–65; mis- 1 + conception

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The findings revealed consistent misconceptions about which foods are more or less harmful to the environment.

From Science Daily

"I think sometimes there's a common misconception that young people are there to cause trouble when actually they just want to connect with their friends and become happier and healthier in a safe space."

From BBC

There is a common misconception that VAR exists to create consistency of decision-making.

From BBC

What I’ve learned from them during this shared season of penitence has strengthened my conviction that non-Muslims need to learn about Islam and get beyond the stereotypes and misconceptions of both the left and right.

From The Wall Street Journal

It wasn’t all that long ago that dark meat was unpopular across certain swaths of American culinary culture, owing to popular misconceptions about its healthiness, cleanliness and quality.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.