mistakenly
Americanadverb
-
unintentionally or inadvertently; by mistake.
I may have mistakenly interchanged them without realizing it.
-
in a way that is wrongly conceived, held, or done; incorrectly.
Many people mistakenly believe their PhD will help them land a stable, middle-class job even if they can't get an academic job.
Etymology
Origin of mistakenly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But “tourist” investors may be unaware and mistakenly expect big returns in just a few years, he added.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026
She claimed that she was mistakenly under the impression that her case would then be sent to appeal and noted that she has the documented verbal comprehension of a second-grader.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026
After the couple resubmitted it, requesting the refund be applied to the 2023 tax bill, the IRS mistakenly issued a refund two times.
From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026
Tottenham interim head coach Igor Tudor has cleared up the viral moment where it was thought he mistakenly hugged someone thinking it was Liverpool manager Arne Slot.
From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026
He’s just some new kid who saw someone around his age and mistakenly befriended him before the cool kids came along and saved him.
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
