Misstep

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈmɪs.stɛp/

Definitions

1. An unintended mistake or blunder in action, judgment, or movement that leads to an undesirable consequence
2. A failure in action, reasoning, or movement that results in a mistake or error of judgment
3. An error made in a decision, physical movement, or social interaction that leads to negative outcomes

Etymology: The word is a plain compound: "mis-" joined to "step," with no surprising twist in its history. The prefix "mis-" comes from Old English, where it attached to verbs and nouns to mean "wrong" or "amiss," and it survives in many English words such as "misjudge" and "mislead." The second element "step" traces back through Middle English "steppen" to Old English "stæppan," meaning to take a step or advance on foot. Both parts are old Germanic material that English has kept for well over a thousand years, so the compound describes a literal foot placed wrongly before its figurative sense took over. A misstep was first a wrong move of the feet, such as slipping or tripping, and the sense of an error of judgment grew out of that physical image.

Synonyms: blunder, error, mistake, slip, faux pas

Antonyms: success, achievement, correctness, accuracy, precision