mislay: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Semi-formal to neutral; more common in written English than casual speech.
Quick answer
What does “mislay” mean?
To accidentally put something somewhere and then forget where you have put it.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To accidentally put something somewhere and then forget where you have put it.
To lose something temporarily through forgetfulness; to misplace unintentionally. Often implies the item is eventually found but its location is currently unknown.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the term identically. 'Misplace' is a slightly more common synonym in AmE, while 'mislay' may be perceived as slightly more formal in both.
Connotations
Identical; implies temporary loss due to carelessness.
Frequency
Used with similar, low-to-medium frequency in both. Slightly more frequent in BrE but not significantly so.
Grammar
How to Use “mislay” in a Sentence
Subject + mislay + Object (noun phrase)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mislay” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I seem to have mislaid my reading glasses.
- He is always mislaying his Oyster card.
American English
- She must have mislaid her driver's license.
- They mislaid the instructions for the appliance.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"I'm afraid I've mislaid the contract; could you send another copy?"
Academic
Rare; more likely in administrative contexts: "The archivist mislaid the original manuscript for a week."
Everyday
"I've completely mislaid my car keys again."
Technical
Not used in technical senses.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mislay”
- Using 'mislay' for permanent loss (e.g., 'I mislaid my wallet on the train' – if it's gone forever, 'lost' is better). Incorrect past participle: 'mislayed' (correct: 'mislaid').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are largely synonymous. 'Mislay' can sound slightly more formal or old-fashioned. 'Misplace' is more common in everyday American English.
The past tense and past participle is 'mislaid' (e.g., 'Yesterday I mislaid my keys').
No, it is used for objects. For people, you would use phrases like 'lost track of' or 'got separated from'.
It is a well-understood word but not extremely common in casual speech. 'Lose' or 'misplace' are often used instead. It is more frequent in written and formal contexts.
To accidentally put something somewhere and then forget where you have put it.
Mislay is usually semi-formal to neutral; more common in written english than casual speech. in register.
Mislay: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪsˈleɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɪsˈleɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: I LAY it down somewhere, but MIS-takenly forgot where. MIS + LAY = to lay in the wrong place.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEMORY IS A STORAGE SPACE (failure of retrieval). CARELESSNESS IS LOSING HOLD.
Practice
Quiz
Which situation best describes 'mislaying' something?