noun
- a name or term that is badly formed or inappropriate, especially a scientific name that violates nomenclatural rules or is etymologically incorrect
Usage: technical; primarily used in taxonomy and linguistics
Examples
- The biologist noted that the species name was a caconym and should be corrected according to international nomenclatural standards.
- In taxonomy, a caconym is often replaced by a properly formed name that follows Latin grammar rules.
- The term caconym comes from Greek roots meaning 'bad name'.
- Researchers discovered that the plant's scientific caconym had been used for decades before the error was identified.