mistake

mistake — noun

1. something you do, say, or believe that turns out to be wrong, causing a result y

1.nounB1
Definition

something you do, say, or believe that turns out to be wrong, causing a result you did not plan or hope for.

Example

Christopher made a serious mistake when he sent the confidential email to the wrong client.

collocation: make + mistake

Eli made a mistake when he painted the kitchen walls bright orange instead of cream.

Common collocations
  • make a mistake
  • admit a mistake
  • learn from a mistake
  • serious mistake
  • common mistake
  • costly mistake
Synonyms
  • error

    more formal; common in writing, computing, and technical contexts

  • blunder

    a very serious or careless mistake, often with embarrassing results

  • slip

    a small, minor mistake, often in speaking or writing

  • oversight

    a mistake caused by forgetting to do something or failing to notice it

Antonyms
  • success

    a result that achieves what was planned or hoped for

  • achievement

    something done well through effort

Grammar Patterns

make + mistake

mistake + to-infinitive (it is a mistake to...)

Usage Note

Commonly used in the pattern "make a mistake." The adjective form is "mistaken" (e.g., a mistaken belief).

Common Mistakes

I did a mistake on the test.
I made a mistake on the test.
In English, mistakes are 'made,' not 'done.'

2. happening without being planned or meant to happen; used when someone does somet

2.nounB1
Definition

happening without being planned or meant to happen; used when someone does something accidentally.

Example

Yan accidentally took Kabir's jacket by mistake because the two coats looked almost identical.

fixed phrase: by mistake

I deleted the entire presentation file by mistake and had to start again from scratch.

Common collocations
  • do something by mistake
  • take something by mistake
  • delete something by mistake
Synonyms
  • by accident

    the most common alternative; identical in meaning and register

  • inadvertently

    more formal; used in writing and official contexts

  • unintentionally

    formal; emphasises that the result was not planned

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

by mistake (as adverbial phrase)

Usage Note

"By mistake" is a fixed phrase that functions as an adverb. It usually comes at the end of a sentence. Do not confuse with "by accident," which has the same meaning but works slightly differently in sentence position.

Common Mistakes

I took his bag by the mistake.
I took his bag by mistake.
No article (a/the) is used between 'by' and 'mistake' in this fixed phrase.
Idioms

and no mistake

idiom

Used to emphasize that something is definitely true.

That was a difficult exam and no mistake.

She is a talented singer and no mistake.

by mistake

idiom

Happening without being planned or intended.

Sara deleted the file by mistake.

Did you take my pen by mistake?

in mistake for something

idiom

Thinking one thing is another thing.

He took the sugar in mistake for salt.

Maya ate a mushroom in mistake for a vegetable.

make no mistake (about something)

idiom

Used to strongly emphasize what you are saying, often as a warning.

Make no mistake, this project will require hard work.

Make no mistake about it, the deadline is final.

mistake — verb

Word family

  • mistaken
    adjectiveB1
  • mistakenly
    adverbB2
  • mistakeable
    adjectiveC1
  • unmistaken
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe something incorrect, but they differ in seriousness and context. "Error" is the most formal and neutral choice — it is used in computing, science, and professional writing (e.g., a spelling error, a statistical error). "Blunder" describes a big, careless, often embarrassing mistake that could have been avoided (e.g., a diplomat's blunder that offends a foreign leader). "Slip" is a small, minor mistake, especially when speaking or writing (a slip of the tongue, a typing slip). "Oversight" focuses on a mistake caused by forgetting or failing to notice something you should have checked (e.g., an oversight in the safety inspection). If you are writing a formal report, use "error." If you accidentally wrote the wrong date on a form, that is a "slip." If you forgot to lock the door when the office closed, that is an "oversight."

error ↗blunder ↗slip ↗oversight ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • make a mistake
  • learn from a mistake
  • admit a mistake
  • repeat a mistake

Prepositions

Etymology

Old NorseMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word "mistake" comes from Old Norse "mistaka," meaning 'to take in error.' The 'mis-' prefix means 'wrongly,' and 'taka' means 'to take.' So the original idea was 'to take the wrong thing or person' — a meaning that survives clearly in the verb sense 'mistake A for B.' The word entered Middle English in the 1300s and gradually broadened from taking the wrong object to making any kind of error in action or judgment.