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Dictionarymistake
noun / verb

mistake

An incorrect action or judgment, or to identify something incorrectly.

I always check my work for mistakes before submitting it.

Etymology
misEnglishwrongly
+takeOld Norseto take

The parts express taking something wrongly. That image extends to understanding or identifying it wrongly, and the noun names the resulting error.

More examples

  • Leaving the window open during the storm was a mistake.
  • People often mistake the twins for each other.
  • I mistook the salt for sugar and ruined the cookies.

Forms

mistake · mistakes · mistook · mistaken · mistaking

Similar words

error
Often emphasizes incorrect results, calculations, or information rather than poor decisions.
blunder
Describes an especially careless, obvious, or embarrassing mistake.
misidentify
Specifically means to assign the wrong identity to someone or something.