The phrase "widespread misunderstanding" means that there is a lot of confusion or lack of understanding among many people about a certain thing or topic. Full definition
The battle over access to emergency contraception is complicated by widespread misunderstanding about what the drug. (cppef.org)
Such misrepresentations cause widespread misunderstandings of critical issues that ultimately harm people, animals and society. (naiaonline.org)
Further, a question - begging definition that equates religion and theism, along with widespread misunderstanding about the normative principle of humanism, continues to camouflage a basic similarity between humanism and expanding varieties of contemporary theism. (religion-online.org)