MISNOMER

            This word simply means “wrong name” or “not the correct word in this context.” It is not, as some people seem to think, a synonym for “misconception” or “fallacy.”

            The prefix “mis-“ means wrong, or incorrect, as in “misspelling.” The “nomer” part of the word is related to the word “name” and such words as “nominate,” “nomenclature,” etc.

            “Calling an orangutan a monkey is a misnomer,” is a correct use of the term.

            “The belief that humans cause climate change is a misnomer,” is incorrect. It’s also wrong, but that’s just my opinion. Grammatically, the sentence would be correct if “fallacy” were used.