Misspeak
verb
To say something in a wrong or inaccurate way.
I must have misspoke when I gave you the date for the meeting; it's actually next Tuesday, not Monday.
Often appears as...
- accidentally misspeak
- deliberately misspeak
verb
To express oneself insincerely or untruthfully.
I think she misspoke when she made that promise, as she never intended to keep it.
Often appears as...
- intentionally misspeak
- blatantly misspeak
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To say something in a wrong or inaccurate way.
I must have misspoke when I gave you the date for the meeting; it's actually next Tuesday, not Monday.
Often appears as...
- accidentally misspeak
- deliberately misspeak
verb
To express oneself insincerely or untruthfully.
I think she misspoke when she made that promise, as she never intended to keep it.
Often appears as...
- intentionally misspeak
- blatantly misspeak
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Correcting Errors
Use 'misspeak' to show you recognize and want to amend a verbal mistake.
I misspoke earlier—the correct figure is 200, not 20.
Pro Tip 2/3Unintentional Slip
Mention 'misspeak' when you've accidentally said something you didn't mean to.
Sorry, I misspoke; your appointment is at 3 PM, not 4 PM.
Pro Tip 3/3Acceptable Phrase
'Misspeak' is not too formal or informal; it can be used in various talking situations.
In last week's presentation, I misspoke about our sales targets.
Pro Tip 1/3Correcting Errors
Use 'misspeak' to show you recognize and want to amend a verbal mistake.
I misspoke earlier—the correct figure is 200, not 20.
Pro Tip 2/3Unintentional Slip
Mention 'misspeak' when you've accidentally said something you didn't mean to.
Sorry, I misspoke; your appointment is at 3 PM, not 4 PM.
Pro Tip 3/3Acceptable Phrase
'Misspeak' is not too formal or informal; it can be used in various talking situations.
In last week's presentation, I misspoke about our sales targets.
Pro Tip 1/3Correcting Errors
Use 'misspeak' to show you recognize and want to amend a verbal mistake.
I misspoke earlier—the correct figure is 200, not 20.
Pro Tip 2/3Unintentional Slip
Mention 'misspeak' when you've accidentally said something you didn't mean to.
Sorry, I misspoke; your appointment is at 3 PM, not 4 PM.
Pro Tip 3/3Acceptable Phrase
'Misspeak' is not too formal or informal; it can be used in various talking situations.
In last week's presentation, I misspoke about our sales targets.
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Video examples
Anne Curzan: What makes...
as "boorish, bureaucratic misspeak." Now, it's not that dictionary editors ignore these kinds of attitudes about language. They try to provide us some guidance about words that are considered slang or informal or offensive, often through usage labels,
Video examples
Anne Curzan: What makes...
as "boorish, bureaucratic misspeak." Now, it's not that dictionary editors ignore these kinds of attitudes about language. They try to provide us some guidance about words that are considered slang or informal or offensive, often through usage labels,
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Kirk Cameron
American Actor
I'm the kind of person that believes that I would like to be evaluated by my entire career and my entire life, not two words that I would misspeak and then later apologize for.
Quote examples
R. T. Rybak
American Politician
Politicians make mistakes. People misspeak in public. God knows I have proven both. A lot.
Quote examples
Kirk Cameron
American Actor
I'm the kind of person that believes that I would like to be evaluated by my entire career and my entire life, not two words that I would misspeak and then later apologize for.
Quote examples
R. T. Rybak
American Politician
Politicians make mistakes. People misspeak in public. God knows I have proven both. A lot.
Example 1 of 2
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