Mistake: meaning, definitions and examples

General term for something done incorrectly. It is commonly used in both formal and informal situations.

• She made a mistake on her math test.
• It was a mistake to trust him.

Technical or formal term usually used in professional or academic contexts to refer to something that deviates from what is right or expected.

• The software contains a serious error.
• There was an error in the calculation.

Used in situations where an error is made through carelessness or lack of judgment. It has a stronger negative connotation and implies a significant or noticeable error.

• The politician's blunder cost him the election.
• He made a blunder by forgetting his lines during the play.

Often used when referring to a defect or imperfection in an object, system, or argument. It can also refer to accountability or responsibility for a mistake.

• There is a fault in the electrical wiring.
• It wasn't her fault that the meeting was delayed.

Informal term that typically refers to minor or accidental mistakes. It often conveys a lighter or less serious tone.

• He apologized for the slip-up in his speech.
• It was just a small slip-up; don't worry about it.

Commonly used to describe an error or a wrong action that has been made. It can refer to small everyday errors or more serious faults.

• I made a mistake by not checking my emails regularly
• It was a mistake to trust him

Used when someone understands something incorrectly or in the wrong way, often referring to information, messages, or signals.

• She misinterpreted his compliment as sarcasm
• The data can easily be misinterpreted if not analyzed correctly

Generally used when someone fails to understand something correctly or gets the wrong idea about what someone else means. It can refer to both spoken and written communication.

• I think you misunderstand my question
• There was a big misunderstanding about the meeting time

Often used when someone mixes up two or more things or when they find something hard to understand or follow. It implies a state of being unsure or bewildered.

• I always confuse their names because they look so similar
• The instructions on the packaging really confuse me