A misnomer is an incorrect or misleading name for a thing. They are often idiomatic.
Examples
- Anti-Semitism is prejudice against Jews, not all Semites.
- Arabic numerals originated in India, not in the Arab world.
- Asteroids are small planets, not small stars as their name suggests.
- Chinese checkers is not Chinese (or even Asian) in origin.
- Columbus Circle in New York is square, not circular.
- Comic books are illustrated stories of any genre or tone, not necessarily funny.
- Doves are aggressive birds, yet they symbolize peace.
- Dry cleaning often uses fluid such as naphtha, making clothes wet.
- The fundamental theorem of algebra is really a theorem of analysis, not of algebra.
- Koala bears are herbivorous marsupials, unrelated to the carnivorous bear family.
- The "lead" in modern pencils is made of graphite and clay, not lead.
- The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan is not a liberal party.
- Peanuts are legumes, not nuts.
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