Freudian slip

American  

noun

1. (in Freudian psychology) an inadvertent mistake in speech or writing that is thought to reveal a person's unconscious motives, wishes, or attitudes.

---

Freudian slip British  

noun

1. any action, such as a slip of the tongue, that may reveal an unconscious thought

---

Freudian slip Cultural  

1. An error in speech that reveals repressed thoughts or feelings; for example, accidentally calling one's wife “Mom.”

---

Etymology

Origin of Freudian slip

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

After the opening day's action, Draper made a Freudian slip which initially proved quite telling.

From BBC • Aug. 21, 2025

Media Research Center commentator Patrick Taylor asked: “Nonsensical word salad, Freudian slip, or legitimately concerning political argument?”

From Washington Times • Jul. 25, 2022

"George W. Bush didn't do a Freudian slip," wrote political commentator John Fugelsang.

From Salon • May 19, 2022

Or you can hear it as a Freudian slip.

From The Guardian • Feb. 10, 2019

I just found a cute little Freudian slip in these notes and—" "Shut up.

From Ten From Infinity by Fairman, Paul W.