typo
noun
typo
1 American
[tahy-poh]
/ ˈtaɪ poʊ /
noun
Informal.
-
typos
plural
typo-
2
American
typo.
3
American
abbreviation
-
typographer.
-
typographic.
-
typographical.
-
typography.
typo
1
British
/ ˈtaɪpəʊ /
noun
typo.
2
British
abbreviation
Usage
What is a typo? Typo is short for typographical error—a mistake made when typing something. The term typically refers to an unintentional error that happens when you accidentally hit the wrong key on a keyboard—the kind of mistake that autocorrect is supposed to catch and automatically fix when you’re typing a document or texting. For example, typing teh when you mean to type the is a common typo. Typos often result in misspellings, but, technically, not all misspellings are typos. It wouldn’t be quite accurate to call a misspelling a typo if you spelled the word that way on purpose. Still, people often use the word this way, especially when politely pointing out misspellings in things that other people have typed. The term typographical error can also refer to an error made during the printing process, such as due to a mechanical issue, but this sense of the term is much less commonly usedExample: I should have proofread my proposal because as I was presenting it I noticed a typo right on the title slide.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of typo
1890–95; shortened form; see -o
Explanation
A typo is a mistake in written or published writing. If you find a misspelled word or misplaced punctuation mark in this blurb, you've caught a typo. Typo is short for typographical error, and you can also call it a misprint. Typos are errors made during the typing process that have been missed by editors and proofreaders. Originally, typos were mistakes made during typesetting, but today you can use the term for mistakes in any typewritten text, from instant messages to social media posts.
Vocabulary lists containing typo
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typ (print, form)
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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.
See Examples For:
When news of England’s 1-0 defeat to the U.S. during the opening round of the 1950 World Cup reached London from Brazil, stunned Brits assumed it must have been a typo.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026
The morning after this article was published, HPE said it had made a typo in a footnote in its press release.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2025
When I saw UCLA’s game against Penn State was being designated a “Blue Out,” I figured it had to be a typo.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2025
An unlikely consequence of all this has been the elevation of the once embarrassing typo.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2025
“About my typo question—could someone do it intentionally? Publish a book with the typos in it on purpose?”
From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
“I thought it was a typo. Like I had no idea,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2022
“I thought it was a typo. Like I had no idea.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2022
When I first looked at the number, I said: ‘That must be a typo. It can’t be 70, you can’t have 70,000, you wouldn’t think you have 70,000 factories here.’
From New York Times ● Nov. 23, 2016
But despite the typos and inconsistencies in the emails, I understood how such an unsophisticated scam might actually be effective if the mark was sufficiently confused—or frightened.
From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026
He then sent out the names of the districts being targeted, quietly lamenting a few typos.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba said, ‘It’s getting disrepectful,’ in a video in which he showed his offensive player of the year trophy with multiple typos.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
Writers are adding typos deliberately to prove they have not used AI.
From MarketWatch ● May 7, 2026
“They could,” he said slowly, “although I don’t know why they would. Publishers pay me to keep typos out of books. Why would they want to leave them in?”
From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
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.
