by mistake

phrase

: because of a mistake : without intending to
I got on the wrong train by mistake.

Examples of by mistake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Last month, the city released a list of the 10 items most frequently placed in recycling bins by mistake. Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 Based on the true story of a reform school where Black boys went missing, the novel pairs the stories of two teens, one a troublemaker and the other caught up by mistake. Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026 The group figured Smith’s admission date had to have been entered in error; a clerk must have substituted his birth date by mistake. Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026 Heirloom Bibles One of the things that truly makes my heart sink is seeing a family Bible go into the donation bin, whether by mistake or on purpose. Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for by mistake

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“By mistake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20mistake. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!