misstep

From mis- +‎ step.

• (noun) IPA^(key): /ˈmɪs.stɛp/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (verb) IPA^(key): /mɪsˈstɛp/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: (verb) -ɛp

misstep (plural missteps)

1. A step that is wrong, a false step.

   On a high ledge, a misstep could be fatal.

   • 1912 January, Zane Grey, chapter 8, in Riders of the Purple Sage […], New York, N.Y.; London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, OCLC 6868219:

     […] burdened as he was, he did not think of length or height or toil. He remembered only to avoid a misstep and to keep his direction.

2. (figuratively) An error or mistake.

   His comment was a misstep that could cost him dearly.

   • 2019 May 19, Alex McLevy, “The final Game Of Thrones brings a pensive but simple meditation about stories (newbies)”, in The A.V. Club‎:

     Plenty of past seasons’ events could look ill-conceived in the critical eye of Monday-morning quarterbacking, but previously, the show had earned the benefit of the doubt that missteps on the part of supposedly intelligent characters were a plausible lack of in-world foresight.

• (error): error, faux pas, mistake

misstep (third-person singular simple present missteps, present participle misstepping, simple past and past participle misstepped)

1. (intransitive) To step badly or incorrectly.

   My dance partner misstepped and landed on my toe.

2. (intransitive) To make an error or mistake.

   I don't want to misstep by offending them.

• overstep

• impests