mistake

1 of 2

verb

mis·​take mə-ˈstāk 

mistook mə-ˈstu̇k  ; mistaken mə-ˈstā-kən  ; mistaking

transitive verb

1

: to blunder in the choice of

mistook her way in the dark

2

a

: to misunderstand the meaning or intention of : misinterpret

don't mistake me, I mean exactly what I said

b

: to make a wrong judgment of the character or ability of

The army's leaders mistook the strength of the enemy.

3

: to identify wrongly : confuse with another

I mistook him for his brother

intransitive verb

: to be wrong

… you mistook when you thought I laughed at you …

—Thomas Hardy

mistakenly adverb

mistaker noun

mistake

2 of 2

noun

1

: a wrong judgment : misunderstanding

It would be a mistake to assume we can rely on them.

She said that marrying for money is a mistake.

2

: something that is not correct : a wrong action or statement proceeding from faulty judgment, inadequate knowledge, or inattention

a mistake in the manuscript

We all make mistakes sometimes.

I made the mistake of believing them.

"When does the store open?" "At 8:00. No, wait—my mistake—it opens at 8:30." "No problem, it was an honest mistake." [=a mistake anyone could make]

took the wrong exit by mistake

Phrases

make no mistake

—used to stress the truth or accuracy of a statement

Make no mistake, we'll all pay for this in the end.

Synonyms of mistake

Verb

• misunderstand
• miss

Noun

• blunder
• error
• misjudgment
• miscalculation
• trip
• misstep

Choose the Right Synonym for mistake

error, mistake, blunder, slip, lapse mean a departure from what is true, right, or proper.

error suggests the existence of a standard or guide and a straying from the right course through failure to make effective use of this.

procedural errors

mistake implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error.

dialed the wrong number by mistake

blunder regularly imputes stupidity or ignorance as a cause and connotes some degree of blame.

diplomatic blunders

slip stresses inadvertence or accident and applies especially to trivial but embarrassing mistakes.

a slip of the tongue

lapse stresses forgetfulness, weakness, or inattention as a cause.

a lapse in judgment

Examples of mistake in a Sentence

Verb

the auctioneer mistook my nod for a bid, and I ended up buying a painting I don't even like

you seriously mistake me if you think I scare so easily

Noun

It would be a mistake to assume that we can rely on their help.

There must be some mistake.

The manuscript contains numerous spelling mistakes.

There's a mistake in the schedule.

“When does the movie start?” “At 8:00. No, wait—my mistake—it starts at 8:30.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In Douglas’s version, the original plays alongside a pair of alternative perspectives, which suggest that the young woman has mistaken one Black soldier for another and that neither intends harm. —Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025

Police drew guns on a student outside a Baltimore County high school after an artificial intelligence system mistook his snack for a firearm. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025

Noun

Tutivillus, who totted up all the mistakes clergymen made when singing hymns or reciting psalms. —JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025

Another mistake is planting hostas in heavy, clay soil that alternates between soggy and rock hard. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mistake

• and no mistake
• by mistake
• honest mistake
• make no mistake
• my mistake

Rhymes for mistake

• awake
• backache
• beefsteak
• betake
• cheesecake
• cupcake
• daybreak
• earthquake
• eastlake
• forsake
• handshake
• headache

Kids Definition

mistake

1 of 2 verb

mis·​take mə-ˈstāk 

mistook -ˈstu̇k  ; mistaken -ˈstā-kən  ; mistaking

1

: to understand wrongly : misinterpret

mistook my meaning

2

: to estimate incorrectly

mistook the strength of the enemy

3

: to identify wrongly

mistook me for her

mistakenly adverb

mistake

2 of 2 noun

1

: a wrong judgment : misunderstanding

2

: a wrong action or statement

Legal Definition

mistake

noun

mis·​take

1

: an unintentional error especially in legal procedure or form that does not indicate bad faith and that commonly warrants excuse or relief by the court

the court's power to revise a judgment because of fraud, mistake, or irregularity

a clerical mistake

2

: an erroneous belief: as

a

: a state of mind that is not in accordance with the facts existing at the time a contract is made and that may be a ground for the rescission or reformation of the contract

b

: a misconception at the time of an offense alleged by a defendant

— mistake of fact

: a mistake regarding a fact or facts especially that significantly affects the performance of a contract

: a criminal defense that attempts to eliminate culpability on the ground that the defendant operated from an unintentional misunderstanding of fact rather than from a criminal purpose

— mistake of law

: a mistake involving the misunderstanding or incorrect application of law in regard to an act, contract, transaction, determination, or state of affairs

also : a criminal defense alleging such a mistake

Note: In both contract and criminal law a mistake of law is a weaker ground for relief or acquittal than a mistake of fact.

— mutual mistake

: a mistake common to both parties to a contract who were in agreement about the purpose or terms of the contract

reformed the contract because of a mutual mistake

— unilateral mistake

: a mistake on the part of one party to a contract that is usually not a ground for rescission or reformation unless one party stands to profit or benefit improperly from the mistake