Misstep Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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misstep

[ˈmɪsˌstɛp ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in dance

A misstep is a mistake made while dancing, such as stepping in the wrong direction or at the wrong time.

Synonyms

blunder, error, mistake.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
misstep	A small or minor mistake, often one that is easily corrected. It's used when the mistake doesn't have serious consequences. He quickly recovered from his misstep during the presentation. A minor misstep in the dance routine didn't ruin the performance.
mistake	A general term for any incorrect or wrong action, decision, or judgment. It can vary in severity but doesn't necessarily imply grave consequences. She realized her mistake after submitting the form. Leaving the gate open was a mistake that allowed the dog to run away.
blunder	A serious or embarrassing mistake, often indicating carelessness or lack of thought. It often involves negative consequences or causes significant problems. The company's financial blunder resulted in huge losses. Her biggest blunder was forgetting to save her work before the computer crashed.
error	A mistake that can range from minor to serious, often used in formal contexts, technical fields, or when referring to calculations and processes. It implies a deviation from correctness or accuracy. There was an error in the calculations, causing the experiment to fail. The error in the program caused it to crash repeatedly.

Examples of usage

She recovered quickly from her misstep and continued the routine.
His misstep caused a slight stumble, but he quickly regained his balance.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

in general

A misstep is a mistake or error in judgment or action.

Synonyms

error, fault, mistake.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
misstep	A misstep is generally used to refer to a small or minor mistake, often in a social or strategic context. He took a misstep in the meeting, offending his boss unintentionally. Her misstep in the conversation was quickly forgiven.
mistake	A mistake is a general term for a wrong action or judgment that can occur in any context. I made a mistake on the test. Trusting him was a big mistake.
error	An error usually refers to a mistake or inaccuracy, particularly in formal, technical, or written contexts. There was an error in the financial report. A coding error caused the software to crash.
fault	Fault often implies responsibility or blame for a mistake, and has a slightly negative connotation. The accident was clearly his fault. It was my fault that the project failed.

Examples of usage

The CEO's misstep led to a significant drop in company stock.
She realized her misstep in trusting him too quickly.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

Cognitive biases often lead to missteps in judgment, suggesting our brains sometimes misinterpret information.
Research shows that people are more likely to commit missteps when anxious or stressed, impacting decision-making.
Errors in judgment can be linked to overconfidence, where individuals underestimate the complexity of a situation.

Pop Culture

In movies, characters often face comical missteps, creating humor through their mistakes, enhancing relatability.
Songs and literature frequently explore themes of missteps in relationships, portraying personal growth through error.
Popular television series often showcase characters overcoming missteps, reinforcing the idea that mistakes are part of life.

History

Famous historical figures have acknowledged their own missteps; for example, leaders have made decisions that changed the course of history.
The term has been used in political contexts, often referring to government actions that lead to public discontent.
Throughout history, missteps in strategy have doomed military campaigns, emphasizing the importance of careful planning.

Education

Missteps in education can often serve as critical learning moments, teaching students resilience and adaptability.
Educators encourage students to understand that making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process.
In project-based learning, missteps can lead to innovative solutions when students are encouraged to iterate on their work.

Origin of 'misstep'

Main points about word origin

The word 'misstep' originates from the prefix 'mis-' meaning incorrect or wrong, combined with 'step', referring to movement.
It first appeared in the English language around the 15th century, originally used in a physical sense before extending metaphorically to mistakes.
Related terms include 'miscalculate' and 'misjudge', which share the same prefix signifying error.

The word 'misstep' originated in the early 19th century, combining 'mis-' (meaning wrong or badly) and 'step'. It initially referred to a literal false step or stumble, especially in dance. Over time, the meaning expanded to include figurative mistakes or errors in judgment. The word is commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts to describe a misjudgment or misfortune.

See also: missteps, overstep, sidestep, step, steppe, stepping, steps.