an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong, an error or fault resulting from defective judgment, deficient knowledge, or carelessness

no mistaking someone or something, make no mistake, a blessing in disguise

make a mistake, learn from one's mistakes, honest mistake

Formal and Informal Expressions of mistake

In different contexts, you can replace 'mistake' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'error, fault' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'screw-up, oopsie' is a commonplace synonym.

mistake: Explore its Definition & Usage

mistake Definition

1an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong
2an error or fault resulting from defective judgment, deficient knowledge, or carelessness

Using mistake: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "mistake" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
I made a mistake in my calculations.
Example
It was a mistake to trust him.
Example
She mistook him for his brother.
Example
He realized his mistake and apologized.

mistake Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for mistake

Antonyms for mistake

Idioms Using mistake

no mistaking someone or something
to be absolutely certain about someone or something
Example
With his bright red hair, there was no mistaking him in the crowd.
make no mistake
used to emphasize the importance of what one is saying
Example
Make no mistake, this is a serious situation that requires immediate attention.
a blessing in disguise
something that seems bad or unlucky at first but results in something good happening later
Example
Losing my job turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it gave me the opportunity to start my own business.

Phrases with mistake

make a mistake
to do something incorrectly or wrongly
Example
I made a mistake in my report and had to correct it.
learn from one's mistakes
to use one's past errors as a guide for future behavior
Example
After failing the test, she learned from her mistakes and studied harder for the next one.
honest mistake
a mistake made without any intention to deceive or harm
Example
It was an honest mistake to send the email to the wrong person.

Origins of mistake

from Old Norse 'mistaka', meaning 'take in error'

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Summary: mistake in Brief

The term 'mistake' [mɪˈsteɪk] refers to misguided or incorrect actions or judgments. It can result from deficient knowledge, carelessness, or faulty judgment, as in 'I made a mistake in my calculations.' 'Mistake' extends into phrases like 'make a mistake,' and idioms like 'no mistaking someone or something,' denoting certainty, and 'a blessing in disguise,' implying a positive outcome from a negative situation.