mistake

[ mi-steyk ]

noun

1. an error in action, calculation, opinion, or judgment caused by poor reasoning, carelessness, insufficient knowledge, etc.

   Synonyms: oversight, fault, erratum, inaccuracy

2. a misunderstanding or misconception.

   Antonyms: understanding

verb (used with object)

, mis·took [mi-, stook], mis·tak·en [mi-, stey, -k, uh, n], mis·tak·ing.

1. to regard or identify wrongly as something or someone else:

   I mistook him for the mayor.

2. to understand, interpret, or evaluate wrongly; misunderstand; misinterpret.

   Synonyms: err, misjudge, misconceive

verb (used without object)

, mis·took [mi-, stook], mis·tak·en [mi-, stey, -k, uh, n], mis·tak·ing.

1. to be in error.

mistake

/ mɪˈsteɪk /

noun

1. an error or blunder in action, opinion, or judgment
2. a misconception or misunderstanding

verb

1. tr to misunderstand; misinterpret

   she mistook his meaning

2. trfoll byfor to take (for), interpret (as), or confuse (with)

   she mistook his direct manner for honesty

3. tr to choose badly or incorrectly

   he mistook his path

4. intr to make a mistake in action, opinion, judgment, etc

Confusables Note

See misnomer.

Derived Forms

• misˈtaker, noun

Other Words From

• mis·taker noun
• mis·taking·ly adverb
• unmis·taking adjective
• unmis·taking·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of mistake¹

First recorded in 1300–30; Middle English mistaken (verb), from Old Norse mistaka “to take in error.” mis- ¹, take

Word History and Origins

Origin of mistake¹

C13 (meaning: to do wrong, err): from Old Norse mistaka to take erroneously

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. and no mistake, for certain; surely:

   He's an honorable person, and no mistake.

More idioms and phrases containing mistake

In addition to the idiom beginning with mistake , also see by mistake ; make no mistake .

Synonym Study

Mistake, blunder, error, slip refer to deviations from right, accuracy, correctness, or truth. A mistake, grave or trivial, is caused by bad judgment or a disregard of rule or principle: It was a mistake to argue. A blunder is a careless, stupid, or gross mistake in action or speech, suggesting awkwardness, heedlessness, or ignorance: Through his blunder the message was lost. An error (often interchanged with mistake ) is an unintentional wandering or deviation from accuracy, or right conduct: an error in addition. A slip is usually a minor mistake made through haste or carelessness: a slip of the tongue.

Example Sentences

USC was among the schools that made a fatal mistake in their pitch: They told the high school senior they wanted him as a defensive back, taking them out of the running.

From Los Angeles Times

“The great thing about this age is you don’t learn by your mistakes,” he joked to TMZ Monday night.

From Los Angeles Times

He lost both of his parents as a teenager - his mother to cancer and his father to a medical mistake.

From BBC

The theme of the team meeting Monday, Foster said, was for the Bruins to stop beating themselves with penalties and other mistakes.

From Los Angeles Times

And, if the aftermath of past humanitarian disasters has taught us anything, sending all of the funds to any one central actor would be a grave mistake.

From Salon

Related Words

• confuse
• miscalculate
• misconstrue
• misinterpret
• misjudge
• misread
• overestimate
• overlook
• underestimate