misdial

Punch digits incorrectly

To misdial is to dial a phone number incorrectly, reaching the wrong person or getting an error: I misdialed and woke up a stranger at 3 a.m.

The term persists even though modern phones rarely have actual dials.

A misdial is an instance of dialing wrong.

accidental

wrong number

Call to unintended recipient

slipMinor error or misstep
fumbleHandle with clumsy fingers
mistakeWrong action or decision

blunder · goof · mishap · bungled · clumsy · inadvertent · unintentional · oversight · miskey · fat-finger

phone

keypad

Button array for input

redialRepeat a call
hangupPersistent psychological preoccupation
busy signalTelephonic rejection sound

touchtone · digits · voicemail · callback · receiver · landline · mobile · area code · extension · contact list

consequence

wrong number

Call to unintended recipient

strangerPerson not yet known
apologyStatement acknowledging wrongdoing
confusionMental disorientation or bewilderment

embarrassment · interruption · hangup · awkward · correction · redialing · misconnection · privacy · nuisance

Categories

mis- wordsmisbehave, miscall, miscount, misdeed, misfire
everyday mistakesslip, typos, trip, spelling errors, fall
phone callsphone number, robocall, cell number, cold call, mobile number
Phone Failswrong number, dropped call, autocorrect fail, reply all
accidental callswrong number
dialing errorswrong number, fat finger, extra digit, transposition

Opposites

accuracy of dialing

misdialget through

Complete despite difficulty

connect · reach

Family

misdials, misdialed, misdialing, misdialled, misdialling

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G