misconception
Americannoun
-
misconceptions
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of misconception
First recorded in 1655–65; mis- 1 + conception
Explanation
A misconception is a conclusion that's wrong because it's based on faulty thinking or facts that are wrong. Your accusation about your brother's role in that unfortunate event at your party may be based on a misconception. First appearing in the 1660s, the noun misconception comes from the prefix mis-, meaning "bad, wrong," and the word conception, meaning "act of conceiving." A misconception usually results from incorrect thinking or a flawed understanding. Because they don't know the facts, many people have a misconception about how diseases such as AIDS are transmitted. It's a common misconception that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, when, in fact, he didn't.
Vocabulary lists containing misconception
Power Prefix: mis-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Eats, Shoots & Leaves
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
World Without Fish
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
One misconception that people often have about conspiracy theories is that there’s a lack of information, Cotlar said, when actually there’s usually a huge abundance of information.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
There’s a common misconception that the beetles are blind.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
"It's this common misconception that young people always want to be inside, glued to their phones," Henry smiles.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Sam DeCaro, director of clinical outreach and education at the Renfrew Center, described a common misconception: that undereating is fine for people who are not considered underweight.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
It is a common misconception that birds abandon their babies because of scent.
From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers
Inside the beverage industry, Infante says one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding the explosion of nonalcoholic drinks is that they’re replacing alcohol altogether.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
Vrticka says one of the biggest misconceptions is that attachment styles are fixed.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
“There’s a lot of misconceptions about brain health. A lot of people think dementia either happens or it doesn’t — that there’s inevitability around it,” said Juan Rodriguez, AARP’s vice president of brain health.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
“We are confident that through ongoing discussions with LAPD, we can clear up the current misconceptions that led to today’s disappointing pause,” said the spokesperson.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
People who think they are Native American but but have not grown up in a Native community may lack tribally specific knowledge and are vulnerable to stereotypes and other misconceptions about being Native.
From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
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.
