English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

blunder

BLUHN-duh

Blunder (noun) means a careless or embarrassing mistake. Example: “Forgetting the client's name was an unforgivable blunder.”

noun
1
A careless or embarrassing mistake.
"Forgetting the client's name was an unforgivable blunder."
"The goalkeeper's blunder cost the team the match."
verb
1
To make a careless, serious mistake.
"The company blundered by launching the product without testing it first."

How to use blunder

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA stupid, avoidable mistake, or the act of making one.

Common pairings
a costly blunder blunder into major blunder

Word forms

blundered past tense, blunders plural, blunders singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “blunder” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Forgetting the client's name was an unforgivable _____.

Etymology

From Middle English blunderen, ultimately related to Old Norse blunda ("to doze"), suggesting a mistake made through carelessness or inattention.

Origin: Middle English

Related words

Rhymes for blunder

See all rhymes for blunder →

Frequently asked questions

What does “blunder” mean?

The word “blunder” means a careless or embarrassing mistake. In plain terms, a stupid, avoidable mistake, or the act of making one.

How do you pronounce “blunder”?

“Blunder” is pronounced BLUHN-duh (/ˈblʌn.dɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “blunder” in a sentence?

Here is “blunder” used in a sentence: “Forgetting the client's name was an unforgivable blunder.”

What is another word for “blunder”?

Words with a similar meaning to “blunder” include goof and howler.

What part of speech is “blunder”?

Depending on how it is used, “blunder” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “blunder” come from?

The word “blunder” comes from Middle English. From Middle English blunderen, ultimately related to Old Norse blunda ("to doze"), suggesting a mistake made through carelessness or inattention.

How many meanings does “blunder” have?

“Blunder” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a careless or embarrassing mistake.

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial