mistake
[mi-steyk]
- an error in action, calculation, opinion, or judgment caused by poor reasoning, carelessness, insufficient knowledge, etc.
- a misunderstanding or misconception.
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- to regard or identify wrongly as something or someone else: I mistook him for the mayor.
- to understand, interpret, or evaluate wrongly; misunderstand; misinterpret.
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- to be in error.
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- and no mistake, for certain; surely: He's an honorable person, and no mistake.
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Origin of mistake
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com1. inaccuracy, erratum, fault, oversight. Mistake, blunder, error, slip refer to deviations from right, accuracy, correctness, or truth. A mistake, grave or trivial, is caused by bad judgment or a disregard of rule or principle: It was a mistake to argue. A blunder is a careless, stupid, or gross mistake in action or speech, suggesting awkwardness, heedlessness, or ignorance: Through his blunder the message was lost. An error (often interchanged with mistake ) is an unintentional wandering or deviation from accuracy, or right conduct: an error in addition. A slip is usually a minor mistake made through haste or carelessness: a slip of the tongue. 4. misconceive, misjudge, err.
Antonyms
2. understanding.
Confusables note
See misnomer.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
omission, misstep, aberration, fault, lapse, miscalculation, blunder, inaccuracy, snafu, confusion, gaffe, misconception, oversight, misread, misinterpret, miscalculate, overlook, confuse, misjudge, underestimateExamples from the Web for mistake
Contemporary Examples
Scalise has called the talk, which he delivered in a hotel outside New Orleans, “a mistake I regret.”
Scalise offered his contrition that he had made a mistake and apologized for appearing before a group some 12 years ago.
Make no mistake: The technology exists—has existed for a long while—to stop this from happening.
I made the mistake of promising one group of guys they could ask me anything if they answered my questions.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for ShotsEmily Shire
December 26, 2014
And make no mistake; they were backed up by sincere religious beliefs.
Historical Examples
Without reasons I was sure of, you know, so there could be no chance of any mistake.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
"Nothing, only you locked the door by mistake," said Ben, coolly.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
He'll be the corn king all right by June 1st; don't make any mistake on that.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
"If you will consult the captain, you may learn your mistake," said Robert.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
Yet they not only use this medium, but mistake it for the whitest sunshine.
The Hall of Fantasy (From "Mosses From An Old Manse")Nathaniel Hawthorne
mistake
- an error or blunder in action, opinion, or judgment
- a misconception or misunderstanding
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- (tr) to misunderstand; misinterpretshe mistook his meaning
- (tr foll by for) to take (for), interpret (as), or confuse (with)she mistook his direct manner for honesty
- (tr) to choose badly or incorrectlyhe mistook his path
- (intr) to make a mistake in action, opinion, judgment, etc
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Word Origin
C13 (meaning: to do wrong, err): from Old Norse mistaka to take erroneously
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for mistake
n.
1630s, from mistake (v.). Meaning "unintended pregnancy" is from 1957.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with mistake
mistake
In addition to the idiom beginning with mistake
- mistake for
also see:
- by mistake
- make no mistake
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.