Misnomer

Definitions

1. A mistake in the naming of a person or place; a misidentification.
2. An incorrect use of a term, especially one which is misleading; a misname.
   broadly
3. A term which is misleading, even if firmly established, technically correct, or both.
   broadly
4. Something which is asserted not to be true; a mistaken belief, a falsehood, a myth.
   broadly, nonstandard, proscribed

Equivalents

Examples

“Rewilding[…]is also a misnomer, for whether by getting rid⟳ of tens of thousands of sheep in Patagonia or introducing a living species as a surrogate for an extinct one – Sayaguesa cattle in place⟳ of aurochs in Croatia’s Velebit Mountains, for instance – rewilding requires more human intervention than its name⟳ suggests.”

“[…] plaintiff's misstyling himself as corporation in initial complaint constituted case of misnomer.”

“The name⟳ Chinese checkers is a misnomer since the game has nothing to do with China.”

“The word blackboard as applied to green or brown chalkboards is a misnomer but is not incorrect, as the broad sense⟳ of the word is idiomatic.”

“It’s a misnomer that all doctors have⟳ bad handwriting.”

CEFR level