false positive

noun2

1. •
   A result of a test that shows as present something that is absent.

   • A false positive from a cancer screening test will unnecessarily frighten a healthy person; a false negative will deprive them of timely treatment.
   • A false positive can be returned on a password checking algorithm when the password is tested against a dictionary but the password does not contain a dictionary word.
2. •
   A type I error.