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)

mistook, mistaken, mistaking. 

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)

mistook, mistaken, mistaking. 

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. 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.

Other Word Forms

• mistaker noun
• mistakingly adverb
• unmistaking adjective
• unmistakingly 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

• 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

For a small-market team like Colorado, the margin for error is small since its can’t afford to buy its way out of a mistake.

From Los Angeles Times

But he also said it would be a grave mistake to view the goal merely as housing the veterans of Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times

Meta said it had reinstated the lawyer's account and was taking steps to prevent the mistake recurring.

From BBC

As a younger cook, I was still learning not to flinch when food darkened in the pan — to trust that the caramelized bits clinging to the bottom weren’t mistakes, but flavor waiting to happen.

From Salon

She has said the "mistake" was the result of incorrect legal advice which failed to "properly take account" of her circumstances.

From BBC

Related Words

• aberration 
• blunder 
• confusion 
• fault 
• gaffe 
• inaccuracy 
• lapse 
• miscalculation www.thesaurus.com
• misconception 
• misstep 
• omission 
• oversight 
• snafu