Misnomer

A misnomer is a name that is incorrectly or unsuitably applied.^[1] Misnomers often arise because something was named long before its correct nature was known, or because an earlier form of something has been replaced by a later form to which the name no longer suitably applies. A misnomer may also be simply a word that someone uses incorrectly or misleadingly.^[2] The word "misnomer" does not mean "misunderstanding" or "popular misconception",^[2] and a number of misnomers remain in common usage — which is to say that a word being a misnomer does not necessarily make usage of the word incorrect.

^ Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged (12th ed.). HarperCollins. 2014.
^ ^a ^b Garner, Bryan (2009). Garner's Modern American Usage (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 542. ISBN 978-0-19-538275-4.

[1] Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged (12th ed.). HarperCollins. 2014.

[Garner-2] Garner, Bryan (2009). Garner's Modern American Usage (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 542. ISBN 978-0-19-538275-4.

[1]

[2]