Vocabulary in context
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Misconception
A belief or idea that is incorrect because it is based on faulty reasoning, incomplete evidence, or misinformation.
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Imagine This
Imagine a student confidently asserts that 'humans only use 10% of their brains.' A quick teacher clarifies that this claim is a misconception and demonstrates why the brain is fully utilized.
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Sounds Like
MIS-kon-SEP-shuhn
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Looks Like
an incorrect concept
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Remember This
Misconceptions are common in science and history. For example, many people believe the Great Wall of China is visible from space, which is a misconception that persists despite evidence to the contrary.
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Other Forms
misconceptionsnoun
misconceiveverb
misconceivedadjective
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Connect With
fallacy, misunderstanding, erroneous belief, myth, stereotype
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Note
A misconception is a mistaken belief about a concept, not a logical argument or myth. Distinguish it from 'fact' and 'fallacy'; use it to describe ideas that are incorrectly conceived.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- A common misconception is that bats are blind.
- Many people have the misconception that vaccines cause autism.
Synonyms
false notionfalse belieferroneous ideamisbelieffalse impression
Antonyms
facttruthaccurate notion
Etymology
From mis- (wrong) + conception (the act of conceiving an idea), from Latin conceptio 'a taking or receiving', from concipere 'to take in'.
Mnemonic
Misconception = mistaken concept. Remember that mis- means wrong, so a misconception is a wrong concept.
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Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abasement
nounThe act or instance of humiliating or degrading someone; the state of being lowered in dignity or status.
Absurdity
nounThe quality or state of being wildly unreasonable, illogical, or ridiculous; something that is completely contrary to reason or common sense.
Accent
nounA distinctive way of pronouncing words; the act of emphasizing a syllable or word (as a verb, to accent means to emphasize).
Accolade
nounAn honor; a public expression of praise or an award.
Acrimony
nounBitterness of speech or manner; ill feeling
Acronym
nounA word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).
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