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.
From the jump, it’s hard to shake the feeling that “Tony” is mistakenly aligning itself with the public’s idea of Bourdain rather than the man’s reality.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026
Yet other people can mistakenly interpret difficulty communicating as evidence of difficulty thinking.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
Radio Caroline has been found in breach of broadcasting rules after it mistakenly announced the death of King Charles III.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
Before taking office, Blanche had worked as a personal criminal defense attorney for Trump and he mistakenly described himself as still serving as Trump’s attorney during his nomination hearing last month.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
He even dared to suggest that Roosevelt may have mistakenly gone down a different river that was already known and mapped.
From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple
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.
