mishap

noun

mis·​hap ˈmis-ˌhap How to pronounce mishap (audio)
mis-ˈhap
Synonyms of mishap
1
: an unfortunate accident
The fire was a tragic mishap that could have been prevented.
2
: bad luck : misfortune
The ceremony proceeded without mishap.

Synonyms of mishap

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misfortune, mischance, adversity, mishap mean adverse fortune or an instance of this.

misfortune may apply to either the incident or conjunction of events that is the cause of an unhappy change of fortune or to the ensuing state of distress.

never lost hope even in the depths of misfortune

mischance applies especially to a situation involving no more than slight inconvenience or minor annoyance.

took the wrong road by mischance

adversity applies to a state of grave or persistent misfortune.

had never experienced great adversity

mishap applies to an often trivial instance of bad luck.

the usual mishaps of a family vacation

Examples of mishap in a Sentence

We experienced the usual mishaps of a family vacation. The ceremony proceeded without mishap. The fire was a tragic mishap that could have been prevented.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
When there’s a box office misfire, the media quite often likes to uncover some sort of major mishap on set. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026 This strategy also gives you space to address any mishaps and take a breather before guests arrive. — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026 As the British royal family hosted the sultan of Oman and members of the Omani royal family for a formal state banquet at Windsor Castle, eagle-eyed fans noticed that Kate’s yellow cutout cape gown almost led to a fashion mishap. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 22 Oct. 2026 To add insult to injury, Amazon Prime Video accidentally made the film available on its platform — a mishap the service repeated recently with Jason Statham’s Mutiny. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mishap

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mishap was in the 14th century

Rhymes for mishap

See All Rhymes for mishap

Browse Nearby Words

mishanter
mishap
Mishawaka
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Cite this Entry

“Mishap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mishap. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mishap

noun
mis·​hap ˈmis-ˌhap How to pronounce mishap (audio)
mis-ˈhap
1
archaic : bad luck
2
: an unfortunate accident
Etymology

Middle English mishap "bad luck," from mis- "bad, unfavorable" and hap "chance, chance occurrence" — related to happen, happy, perhaps

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