misspeak
Americanverb (used with or without object)
-
to speak, utter, or pronounce incorrectly.
-
to speak inaccurately, inappropriately, or too hastily.
Etymology
Origin of misspeak
1150–1200; Middle English misspeken; see mis- 1, speak; compare Old English missprecan to murmur
Explanation
To misspeak is to say something the wrong way. You can misspeak by pronouncing someone's name incorrectly, or misspeak by saying something that accidentally offends them. Sometimes when politicians are called out on controversial things they say, they claim to misspeak. Saying that you misspeak implies that a mere slip of the tongue kept you from saying the right thing, and allows you to set the record straight. In the fourteenth century, to misspeak was both "to say amiss," and also "to speak insultingly," from the Old English missprecan, "to grumble."
Vocabulary lists containing misspeak
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.
“That includes speaking out forcefully against inappropriate statements and even correcting our own statements when we misspeak or when our words are taken out of context,” he posted.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 5, 2023
“I didn’t misspeak with the current law in Virginia,” he said.
From Washington Post • Jul. 13, 2022
But it is pretty clear he didn’t misspeak — TechCrunch has quote after quote from Mor insisting that Belkin has at least one product on the way.
From The Verge • Apr. 27, 2022
Mr. McAuliffe also told the outlet he did not misspeak during a Sept. 28 debate with his Republican opponent, Glenn Youngkin.
From Washington Times • Oct. 20, 2021
A man can live a long and adventurous life without ever being spoken to by Lacey Pemberton, and when that rare opportunity does arise, one does not wish to misspeak.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
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.
