misspeak

From Middle English misspeken, mispeken, mysspeken, from Old English *misspecan, missprecan (“to murmur”), equivalent to mis- +‎ speak.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /mɪsˈspiːk/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

• Rhymes: -iːk

misspeak (third-person singular simple present misspeaks, present participle misspeaking, simple past misspoke, past participle misspoken)

1. (transitive, intransitive, chiefly US) To fail to pronounce, utter, or speak correctly.

   Either I misspoke or you misheard.

   • 2020 September 30, “Trump Faces Torrent of Criticism From Fellow Republicans After Failing to Denounce White Supremacy”, in New York Times‎:

     The president’s comments on Wednesday came after Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, the chamber’s only Black Republican, said that “white supremacy should be denounced at every turn. I think he misspoke, I think he should correct it. If he doesn’t correct it I guess he didn’t misspeak.”

   • 2022 October 5, Conrad Landin, “Network News: Labour resolves to put rail "in the hands of the public"”, in RAIL, number 967, page 16:

     In July, both Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves appeared to contradict the commitment to public ownership - but then subsequently said they had misspoken.

2. (intransitive, obsolete) To speak insultingly or disrespectfully.