1
: an unfortunate accident
The fire was a tragic mishap that could have been prevented.
2
: bad luck : misfortune
The ceremony proceeded without mishap.
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
But even a minor snack mishap doesn’t go unnoticed.
—
Sam Jane, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026
SpaceX seems to have worked out much of the kinks developing the Super Heavy booster responsible for launching Starship — though a recent mishap of the booster's latest version did rupture during a pressurization test.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Rice and Texas State began without delay after the mishap.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 2 Jan. 2026
There's cracking, water bath mishaps, and undercooked centers to be had.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mishap
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Sam Jane, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026
SpaceX seems to have worked out much of the kinks developing the Super Heavy booster responsible for launching Starship — though a recent mishap of the booster's latest version did rupture during a pressurization test.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Rice and Texas State began without delay after the mishap.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 2 Jan. 2026
There's cracking, water bath mishaps, and undercooked centers to be had.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mishap
Cite this Entry
“Mishap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mishap. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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