miscue

¹ American  

[mis-kyoo] / mɪsˈkyu /

noun

1. Sports. a failure to execute a play, stroke, or maneuver properly; an error.

2. Informal. a mistake.

3. Informal. to make a mistake.

4. Theater. to fail to answer one's cue or to answer another's cue.

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verb (used with object)

miscued, miscuing

1. to give the wrong cue to.

miscue ² American  

[mis-kyoo] / mɪsˈkyu /

noun

1. a stroke in which the cue fails to make solid contact with the cue ball.

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verb (used without object)

miscued, miscuing

1. to make a miscue.

miscue British  

/ ˌmɪsˈkjuː /

noun

1. billiards a faulty stroke in which the cue tip slips off the cue ball or misses it altogether

2. informal a blunder or mistake

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verb

1. (intr) billiards to make a miscue

2. (intr) theatre to fail to answer one's own cue or answer the cue of another

3. radio to start (a record or tape) at the wrong point

4. informal (intr) to blunder

Etymology

Origin of miscue¹

First recorded in 1880–85; mis- ¹ + cue ¹

Origin of miscue²

First recorded in 1870–75; mis- ¹ + cue ²

Example Sentences

A successful meeting, and international diplomacy, can hinge on the slightest missed protocol, an unexpected miscue or even a bit of saliva left on a fork.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

Jamie Overton's hitting meant 20 were needed off the final over, but his miscue to cover left England 252 all out.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2026

The offense, however, could not convert the miscue into points.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 10, 2026

Alick Athanaze, who made 21, was the only wicket to fall when he attempted to loft a James Neesham delivery over mid-on only to miscue and be caught by Daryl Mitchell running back.

From Barron's • Nov. 10, 2025

The slightest miscue by any one of them would mean catching a crab, and catastrophe.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

Related Words

• blooper
• mistake