typo
noun
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typo
1 American
[tahy-poh]
/ ˈtaɪ poʊ /
noun
Informal.
typos
plural
typo-
2
American
typo.
3
American
abbreviation
-
typographer.
-
typographic.
-
typographical.
-
typography.
typo
1
British
/ ˈtaɪpəʊ /
noun
typo.
2
British
abbreviation
Usage
What is a typo? Typo is short for typographical error—a mistake made when typing something. The term typically refers to an unintentional error that happens when you accidentally hit the wrong key on a keyboard—the kind of mistake that autocorrect is supposed to catch and automatically fix when you’re typing a document or texting. For example, typing teh when you mean to type the is a common typo. Typos often result in misspellings, but, technically, not all misspellings are typos. It wouldn’t be quite accurate to call a misspelling a typo if you spelled the word that way on purpose. Still, people often use the word this way, especially when politely pointing out misspellings in things that other people have typed. The term typographical error can also refer to an error made during the printing process, such as due to a mechanical issue, but this sense of the term is much less commonly usedExample: I should have proofread my proposal because as I was presenting it I noticed a typo right on the title slide.
Etymology
Origin of typo
1890–95; shortened form; see -o
Explanation
A typo is a mistake in written or published writing. If you find a misspelled word or misplaced punctuation mark in this blurb, you've caught a typo. Typo is short for typographical error, and you can also call it a misprint. Typos are errors made during the typing process that have been missed by editors and proofreaders. Originally, typos were mistakes made during typesetting, but today you can use the term for mistakes in any typewritten text, from instant messages to social media posts.
Vocabulary lists containing typo
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for July 1–July 7, 2023
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typ (print, form)
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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.
A typo in a caption in our last issue incorrectly spelled his name as George de La Tour.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
The morning after this article was published, HPE said it had made a typo in a footnote in its press release.
From Barron's • Oct. 15, 2025
Upon seeing a small typo, I hesitated for a moment before correcting it.
From Slate • Aug. 20, 2025
He then added “you’ve*” to correct his own typo.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2025
With every typo she found, she crossed out the incorrect letter and wrote the correct one above.
From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
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.
