Vocabulary in context
SAT Vocabulary Workbook
The closest companion to SATVocab for students who want guided lessons and written practice.
Check the workbook
Mishap
An unlucky accident or minor misfortune; a small event that causes trouble but is usually not serious.
nounCheck this word before you leave
Pick the meaning. Keys A–D work too.
How well do you know this word now?
Your choice schedules the next review.
💡
Imagine This
Imagine you’re hosting a small outdoor picnic and a gust of wind flips a tablecloth, napkins scatter, and a drink spills—all small, embarrassing troubles that everyone laughs about afterward. That moment is a mishap.
🔊
Sounds Like
MIS-hap
👀
Looks Like
Looks like 'miss-hap' (miss + hap), hinting that luck has missed you and something goes wrong.
📝
Remember This
Originates from hap meaning luck; mis- indicates wrong or bad luck. First used in English in the 16th century to describe ill fortune.
📚
Other Forms
mishapsnoun
🔗
Connect With
accident, incident, misfortune, setback, glitch
📌
Note
Used for small accidents or unfortunate events. Do not overstate by using 'mishap' for major disasters; for serious accidents use 'accident' or 'catastrophe'.
🧠
Study Deeper
Examples
- A minor mishap occurred when the projector stopped working and the slides wouldn’t load.
- She spilled coffee on her shirt, but it was just a small mishap and she kept the meeting on track.
Synonyms
accidentincidentsetbackmisadventureglitch
Antonyms
fortunegood luckblessing
Etymology
From mis- (wrong) + hap (luck). Hap, meaning luck or fortune, comes from Old English/Old Norse roots; the word mishap originally signified ill luck.
Mnemonic
Miss Hap: remember the word as 'Miss Hap'—a girl whose luck misses her, leading to a small mishap.
Next Word
Continue in alphabetical order.
Try a Random Word
Pick any word below to jump in.
Profundity
nounThe depth of thought, feeling, or significance; the quality of being deeply insightful or meaningful.
Effusive
adjectiveExhibiting or expressing excessive emotion or praise; demonstrative and unrestrained.
Defy
verbTo openly challenge or refuse to obey; to resist, confront, or dare against someone or something.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abasement
nounThe act or instance of humiliating or degrading someone; the state of being lowered in dignity or status.
Absurdity
nounThe quality or state of being wildly unreasonable, illogical, or ridiculous; something that is completely contrary to reason or common sense.
Accent
nounA distinctive way of pronouncing words; the act of emphasizing a syllable or word (as a verb, to accent means to emphasize).
Accolade
nounAn honor; a public expression of praise or an award.
Acrimony
nounBitterness of speech or manner; ill feeling
Acronym
nounA word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).
Study beyond this word
Turn vocabulary practice into a complete SAT plan
Add a workbook for repetition or the official guide for full-test context.
First-time test takers
Official SAT Guide
Official question styles, test structure, and print practice from the College Board.
Check the official guidePaid Amazon links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.