# mistake

/mɪˈsteɪk/ (US) · /mɪstˈeɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mistake
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. an error

noun · CEFR A1

something you do that is wrong, incorrect, or not what you intended.

For teachers: an act or judgement that is misguided or wrong; an unintentional deviation from accuracy or propriety.

- I made a small mistake in the email, but I sent a correction quickly.
- The accountant discovered a significant mistake in the quarterly report that required several hours of forensic auditing to resolve.

Usage: Commonly used with the verb 'make'.

### 2. to confuse one thing for another

verb · CEFR B1

to think that someone or something is someone or something else.

For teachers: to identify someone or something incorrectly; to confuse a person or thing with another.

- I often mistake her for her sister because they look so similar.
- It is easy to mistake the symptoms of a common cold for those of more serious seasonal allergies during the spring months.

Usage: Usually follows the pattern 'mistake A for B'.

### 3. to misunderstand

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to fail to understand a person or a situation correctly.

For teachers: to misinterpret or fail to understand the nature or meaning of something.

- Please do not mistake my silence for agreement.
- The diplomat warned the assembly not to mistake the nation's willingness to negotiate for a lack of military resolve.

## Examples

- I made a small mistake on the math test.
- The waiter apologized for the mistake and brought the correct meal to our table immediately.
- While some errors are easily corrected, a fundamental mistake in the early stages of the architectural design can lead to structural instability years later.

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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.