# mishap

/ˈmɪsˌhæp/ (US) · /mˈɪshæp/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mishap
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a small accident or a mistake that causes a little trouble. It is a more formal way to say 'accident'.

For teachers: a minor accident or an unfortunate incident that causes a small amount of trouble or inconvenience.

## Examples

- The small mishap did not delay the train.
- The team's victory was almost ruined by a minor mishap during the final minutes of the game.
- While the overall mission was a success, a minor mishap with the satellite's solar panels required an emergency patch to the software before the data could be transmitted.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.