Misnomer
Misnomer
A misnomer is a term or name that is inaccurately or unsuitably applied to a person, an object, or a concept. It is derived from the Middle English word "misnoumer", which means "to misname". Misnomers often arise from an incorrect or incomplete understanding of the subject, or from a change in the subject's nature or characteristics over time.
Types of Misnomers[edit | edit source]
There are several types of misnomers, including:
- Etymological misnomer: This occurs when a word's current usage differs from its original meaning. For example, the term "hamburger" is derived from the German city of Hamburg, but it does not contain ham.
- Geographical misnomer: This is a place name that is geographically inaccurate. For example, the "West Indies" are not located in India, but were named by explorers who believed they had reached the Indian subcontinent.
- Zoological and botanical misnomer: These are names of animals or plants that are scientifically incorrect. For example, the "koala bear" is not a bear, but a marsupial.
Examples of Misnomers[edit | edit source]
Misnomers are common in everyday language and can be found in various fields, such as:
- Food and drink: "French fries" are not French, but Belgian. "White chocolate" is not chocolate, as it contains no cocoa solids.
- Science and technology: The "lead" in pencils is actually graphite. The "funny bone" is not a bone, but a nerve.
- Culture and society: The "Middle Ages" were not in the middle of anything, but were named so because they were between the fall of the Roman Empire and the start of the Renaissance.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
| Misnomer Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
