honest mistake
noun
: something that anyone could be wrong about
Don't worry about it. It was an honest mistake.
Examples of honest mistake in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Now go out there and get a waitress fired for an honest mistake.
—
Evan Waite, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2024
Prosecutors said the testimony helps prove Hankison's actions during the raid of Taylor's apartment were willful, rather than an honest mistake, as his defense has argued.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 14 Oct. 2024
For the vast number of journalists, even making an honest mistake is extremely embarrassing.
—Larry Magid, The Mercury News, 10 Oct. 2024
While the princess’ apology and claim of an honest mistake should go some way to halting further social media conversation, others will find the altered image and subsequent explanation hard to accept.
—Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024
When companies make an honest mistake, customers are usually willing to forgive.
—Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Feb. 2024
If the police officers who killed Bradford really made an honest mistake, a heat-of-the-moment decision, the video would show that to the public.
—Umar Farooq, ProPublica, 28 Dec. 2023
And while the honest mistake of a seat reshuffle might seem like business as usual to a major airline, there are often unseen personal dynamics at play.
—Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Nov. 2023
Is this incompetence, ignorance, or an honest mistake?
—Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 1 July 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Evan Waite, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2024
Prosecutors said the testimony helps prove Hankison's actions during the raid of Taylor's apartment were willful, rather than an honest mistake, as his defense has argued.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 14 Oct. 2024
For the vast number of journalists, even making an honest mistake is extremely embarrassing.
—Larry Magid, The Mercury News, 10 Oct. 2024
While the princess’ apology and claim of an honest mistake should go some way to halting further social media conversation, others will find the altered image and subsequent explanation hard to accept.
—Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024
When companies make an honest mistake, customers are usually willing to forgive.
—Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Feb. 2024
If the police officers who killed Bradford really made an honest mistake, a heat-of-the-moment decision, the video would show that to the public.
—Umar Farooq, ProPublica, 28 Dec. 2023
And while the honest mistake of a seat reshuffle might seem like business as usual to a major airline, there are often unseen personal dynamics at play.
—Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Nov. 2023
Is this incompetence, ignorance, or an honest mistake?
—Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 1 July 2023
Dictionary Entries Near honest mistake
Cite this Entry
“Honest mistake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honest%20mistake. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share