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.
But anyone mistakenly picking food supplier Sysco near the peak laughed all the way to the bank as it trounced the internet darling’s stock performance for years.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026
Many investment experts mistakenly believe that a strong economy, not inflation, is the key to value stocks beating growth stocks.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 29, 2026
Instead of forgetting his sneakers or a racket at home, Klugo might mistakenly leave without his hearing aid’s batteries.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
The condition occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints, leading to pain, swelling, fatigue, and, over time, permanent joint damage and disability.
From Science Daily • Jun. 1, 2026
He’s just some new kid who saw someone around his age and mistakenly befriended him before the cool kids came along and saved him.
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
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.
