by mistake

1. Erroneously, as in He took my coat by mistake. [c. 1700]

Example Sentences

I bumbled my way through an explanation of not having had my coffee yet and leaving them in the car by mistake.

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Eventually the victim presses accept either by mistake or to make the pop-ups go away.

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The government hopes the move will also raise awareness of the rules to avoid people continuing to claim the benefit by mistake when they are abroad for an extended period.

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Federal officials said they were looking to apprehend a suspected MS-13 gang member and instead took the person’s cousin by mistake.

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Agents left behind some bullets on the sidewalk, apparently by mistake, which were collected by school police.

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Related Words

• unintentionally 
• unwittingly