mishap

noun

mis·​hap ˈmis-ˌhap 

mis-ˈhap

1

: an unfortunate accident

The fire was a tragic mishap that could have been prevented.

2

: bad luck : misfortune

The ceremony proceeded without mishap.

Synonyms of mishap

• accident

Choose the Right Synonym for mishap

misfortune, mischance, adversity, mishap mean adverse fortune or an instance of this.

misfortune may apply to either the incident or conjunction of events that is the cause of an unhappy change of fortune or to the ensuing state of distress.

never lost hope even in the depths of misfortune

mischance applies especially to a situation involving no more than slight inconvenience or minor annoyance.

took the wrong road by mischance

adversity applies to a state of grave or persistent misfortune.

had never experienced great adversity

mishap applies to an often trivial instance of bad luck.

the usual mishaps of a family vacation

Examples of mishap in a Sentence

We experienced the usual mishaps of a family vacation.

The ceremony proceeded without mishap.

The fire was a tragic mishap that could have been prevented.

Recent Examples on the Web

What begins as a straightforward trip to rehab quickly spirals into a journey packed with mishaps, revelations and unexpected connections, forcing both Lucy and Tim to confront the messy realities of fame, family and recovery. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026

There are scores of websites, social-media groups, and YouTube channels dedicated to analyzing and documenting crashes, ostensibly with the goal of preventing future mishaps in flight. — Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Samuel was previously involved in a mishap with a yellow Lamborghini while visiting 777 Exotics, a luxury car rental dealership in the Los Angeles area, with his father and Affleck's then-fiancée, Jennifer Lopez, in June 2022. — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Coffee spills, muddy shoes, pet mishaps, and everyday messes don’t have to turn into decorating disasters. — Ethan Stone october 9, Idaho Statesman, 9 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mishap

• bandgap
• bitmap
• blackcap
• blackstrap
• bootstrap
• burlap
• claptrap
• entrap
• foolscap
• kidnap
• kneecap
• madcap

Kids Definition

mishap

noun

mis·​hap ˈmis-ˌhap 

mis-ˈhap

1

archaic : bad luck

2

: an unfortunate accident

Etymology

Middle English mishap "bad luck," from mis- "bad, unfavorable" and hap "chance, chance occurrence" — related to happen, happy, perhaps