Mistake
noun
Something that is not correct, a wrong action or statement.
She made a mistake in her calculations and we lost the game.
Often appears as...
- make a mistake
- serious mistake
verb
To understand, judge, or identify something wrongly.
I mistook you for my brother in the dark.
Often appears as...
- mistake someone for
- mistake something for
noun
An action or judgment that is misguided or wrong.
His mistake of fact led to a wrongful conviction.
Often appears as...
- mistake of fact
- mistake of law
Usage tips
Disapproving
Legal
noun
Something that is not correct, a wrong action or statement.
She made a mistake in her calculations and we lost the game.
Often appears as...
- make a mistake
- serious mistake
verb
To understand, judge, or identify something wrongly.
I mistook you for my brother in the dark.
Often appears as...
- mistake someone for
- mistake something for
noun
An action or judgment that is misguided or wrong.
His mistake of fact led to a wrongful conviction.
Often appears as...
- mistake of fact
- mistake of law
Usage tips
Disapproving
Legal
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Apologies Expected
When acknowledging a mistake in English-speaking cultures, saying sorry is often expected.
I'm sorry, that was my mistake for not double-checking the report.
Pro Tip 2/3Learn from Errors
Discussing mistakes can be a sign of wanting to improve and not repeat them.
My last mistake taught me to always verify my sources.
Pro Tip 3/3Politeness Factor
Using 'small', 'tiny' or 'slight' before 'mistake' can make it sound less severe.
There’s a small mistake here; you forgot to include the date.
Pro Tip 1/3Apologies Expected
When acknowledging a mistake in English-speaking cultures, saying sorry is often expected.
I'm sorry, that was my mistake for not double-checking the report.
Pro Tip 2/3Learn from Errors
Discussing mistakes can be a sign of wanting to improve and not repeat them.
My last mistake taught me to always verify my sources.
Pro Tip 3/3Politeness Factor
Using 'small', 'tiny' or 'slight' before 'mistake' can make it sound less severe.
There’s a small mistake here; you forgot to include the date.
Pro Tip 1/3Apologies Expected
When acknowledging a mistake in English-speaking cultures, saying sorry is often expected.
I'm sorry, that was my mistake for not double-checking the report.
Pro Tip 2/3Learn from Errors
Discussing mistakes can be a sign of wanting to improve and not repeat them.
My last mistake taught me to always verify my sources.
Pro Tip 3/3Politeness Factor
Using 'small', 'tiny' or 'slight' before 'mistake' can make it sound less severe.
There’s a small mistake here; you forgot to include the date.
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Video examples
How to raise a Black son...
that you cannot simply be curious, that you are not afforded the luxury of making a mistake, that someone's implicit bias might be the reason you don't wake up in the morning. But this cannot be what defines us. Because we have parents who raised us to understand that our bodies weren't meant for the backside of a bullet,
Video examples
How do you know you...
All his knowledge had come from his sensory perceptions of the world. Same as you, right? You know you're watching this video with your eyes, hearing it with your ears. Your senses show you the world as it is. They aren't deceiving you, but sometimes they do. You might mistake a person far away for someone else,
Video examples
Making a TED-Ed Lesson:...
translate from a sketch to the actual prototype. Instead of using fancy paper, start with the cheap stuff and allow yourself to make mistakes and adjustments. This prototype lets you see how your preliminary sketches will come to life. You will want to first draw all individual parts on a single sheet,
Video examples
Incredible Orangutan...
when he uses that diamond shaped symbol with the two lines inside you tell me what you want me to do with this closed container okay open all right good that was actually a very good choice because there's a little something in there for him mistakes are are actually quite rare
Video examples
What really happens to...
This is one of five plastic-filled gyres in the world's seas. Places where the pollutants turn the water into a cloudy plastic soup. Some animals, like seabirds, get entangled in the mess. They, and others, mistake the brightly colored plastic bits for food.
Video examples
Music as a language -...
More importantly, think about how you learned it. You were a baby when you first started speaking, and even though you spoke the language incorrectly you were allowed to make mistakes. And the more mistakes you made, the more your parents smiled.
Video examples
An inside look at...
of this environment the boys and girls mixed was a nurturing caring environment he weren't slapped if he made a mistake and this contrast would lay the foundation for an identity crisis for my identity crisis that would manifest
Video examples
Orangutan understands 72...
You tell me what you want me to do with this first container, okay. Open, alright, good. That was actually a very good choice because there's a little something in there. For him, mistakes are actually quite rare.
Video examples
The myth of Icarus and...
He invented carpentry and all the tools used for it. He designed the first bathhouse and the first dance floor. He made sculptures so lifelike that Hercules mistook them for actual men.
Video examples
Free Solo - Trailer PIPE...
How can you even think about taking that away from somebody? MAN No mistakes tomorrow. I'm starting to become afraid. If you're pushing the edge, eventually you find the edge.
Video examples
How to raise a Black son...
that you cannot simply be curious, that you are not afforded the luxury of making a mistake, that someone's implicit bias might be the reason you don't wake up in the morning. But this cannot be what defines us. Because we have parents who raised us to understand that our bodies weren't meant for the backside of a bullet,
Video examples
How do you know you...
All his knowledge had come from his sensory perceptions of the world. Same as you, right? You know you're watching this video with your eyes, hearing it with your ears. Your senses show you the world as it is. They aren't deceiving you, but sometimes they do. You might mistake a person far away for someone else,
Video examples
Making a TED-Ed Lesson:...
translate from a sketch to the actual prototype. Instead of using fancy paper, start with the cheap stuff and allow yourself to make mistakes and adjustments. This prototype lets you see how your preliminary sketches will come to life. You will want to first draw all individual parts on a single sheet,
Video examples
Incredible Orangutan...
when he uses that diamond shaped symbol with the two lines inside you tell me what you want me to do with this closed container okay open all right good that was actually a very good choice because there's a little something in there for him mistakes are are actually quite rare
Video examples
What really happens to...
This is one of five plastic-filled gyres in the world's seas. Places where the pollutants turn the water into a cloudy plastic soup. Some animals, like seabirds, get entangled in the mess. They, and others, mistake the brightly colored plastic bits for food.
Video examples
Music as a language -...
More importantly, think about how you learned it. You were a baby when you first started speaking, and even though you spoke the language incorrectly you were allowed to make mistakes. And the more mistakes you made, the more your parents smiled.
Video examples
An inside look at...
of this environment the boys and girls mixed was a nurturing caring environment he weren't slapped if he made a mistake and this contrast would lay the foundation for an identity crisis for my identity crisis that would manifest
Video examples
Orangutan understands 72...
You tell me what you want me to do with this first container, okay. Open, alright, good. That was actually a very good choice because there's a little something in there. For him, mistakes are actually quite rare.
Video examples
The myth of Icarus and...
He invented carpentry and all the tools used for it. He designed the first bathhouse and the first dance floor. He made sculptures so lifelike that Hercules mistook them for actual men.
Video examples
Free Solo - Trailer PIPE...
How can you even think about taking that away from somebody? MAN No mistakes tomorrow. I'm starting to become afraid. If you're pushing the edge, eventually you find the edge.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Neil Gaiman
British Author
I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something.
Quote examples
Melania Trump
American First Lady
I think is important to give a child room to make mistakes in order to learn. Mistakes build wings so later in life they can fly and go on their own. Let them fall once in awhile... Be their friend and parent as well. When they're in trouble, they will come to you first. Don't try to change their opinion.
Quote examples
Jennifer Lopez
American Musician
I know that being seen as a role model means taking responsibility for all my actions. I am human, and of course, sometimes I make mistakes. But I promise that when I fall, I get back up.
Quote examples
Joel Osteen
American Clergyman
You can live your life angry, bitter, mad at somebody or even guilty, not letting go of your own mistakes, but you won't receive the good things God has in store.
Quote examples
Steven Wright
American Comedian
When I woke up this morning my girlfriend asked me, 'Did you sleep good?' I said 'No, I made a few mistakes.
Quote examples
Buddha
Leader
There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.
Quote examples
Future
American Musician
I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. I wouldn't say musically, though.
Quote examples
Chuck Palahniuk
American Novelist
Your birth is a mistake you'll spend your whole life trying to correct.
Quote examples
Friedrich Nietzsche
German Philosopher
Without music, life would be a mistake.
Quote examples
Kim Kardashian
American Celebrity
I've made mistakes in my life for sure.
Quote examples
Neil Gaiman
British Author
I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something.
Quote examples
Melania Trump
American First Lady
I think is important to give a child room to make mistakes in order to learn. Mistakes build wings so later in life they can fly and go on their own. Let them fall once in awhile... Be their friend and parent as well. When they're in trouble, they will come to you first. Don't try to change their opinion.
Quote examples
Jennifer Lopez
American Musician
I know that being seen as a role model means taking responsibility for all my actions. I am human, and of course, sometimes I make mistakes. But I promise that when I fall, I get back up.
Quote examples
Joel Osteen
American Clergyman
You can live your life angry, bitter, mad at somebody or even guilty, not letting go of your own mistakes, but you won't receive the good things God has in store.
Quote examples
Steven Wright
American Comedian
When I woke up this morning my girlfriend asked me, 'Did you sleep good?' I said 'No, I made a few mistakes.
Quote examples
Buddha
Leader
There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.
Quote examples
Future
American Musician
I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. I wouldn't say musically, though.
Quote examples
Chuck Palahniuk
American Novelist
Your birth is a mistake you'll spend your whole life trying to correct.
Quote examples
Friedrich Nietzsche
German Philosopher
Without music, life would be a mistake.
Quote examples
Kim Kardashian
American Celebrity
I've made mistakes in my life for sure.
Example 1 of 10
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