misnomer

Definitions

mis- (wrongly) + nomer (to name, from Old French nommer < Latin nōmen) = 'a wrong naming.' A misnomer is a name that misleads — calling a peanut a 'nut' is a misnomer, since it's really a legume. The -nomer spelling comes through French, hiding the nōmen root.

Why It Means This

Misnomer is a favorite of careful writers: it doesn't just mean a wrong name, but a name that actively misleads about what something is. 'Greenland' is the classic example — mostly ice, hardly green. The word lets you flag that a label and reality don't match.

Common Collocations

• 1.something of a misnomer有点名不副实
• 2.be a misnomer是个误称
• 3.prove a misnomer被证明名不副实

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Calling it a 'smart' phone is something of a misnomer.

• 2.

  'Tin foil' is a misnomer, since it's actually made of aluminum.