1. names or terms that are inaccurate or inappropriate for what they describe
Usage: plural of misnomer

Examples

• Many common food names are actually misnomers, like ‘peanuts’ which are legumes, not nuts.
• The terms ‘shooting stars’ and ‘falling stars’ are misnomers since they refer to meteors, not actual stars.
• Guinea pigs are misnomers because they’re not from Guinea and they’re not pigs.
• Koala bears and panda bears are misnomers since neither animal is actually a bear.
• The teacher explained that several historical names we use today are misnomers.
• Funny bone is one of many anatomical misnomers since it’s actually a nerve, not a bone.