unforced error
Unpressured tennis fault
An unforced error is a mistake made without pressure from an opponent—a failure of execution rather than a forced failure.
The term comes from tennis, where hitting the ball into the net on an easy shot counts as an unforced error.
It has spread to other contexts: The campaign's tweet was an unforced error that dominated headlines for days.
- clangerGlaring embarrassing error
- miscueFailed stroke
- mental lapseBrief failure of attention
- faultImperfection or blame
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
brain freeze · groundstroke · double fault · forehand · backhand · let · miss · shot selection · self-inflicted · mistake · slip · rally · break point · game point · match point · tennis court · volley · topspin