ERROR, MISTAKE, BLUNDER, SLIP, LAPSE mean a departure from what is true, right, or proper.

ERROR suggests the existence of a standard or guide and a straying from the right course through failure to make effective use of this.

e.g. procedural errors

MISTAKE implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error.

e.g. dialed the wrong number by mistake

BLUNDER regularly imputes stupidity or ignorance as a cause and connotes some degree of blame.

e.g. diplomatic blunders

SLIP stresses inadvertence or accident and applies especially to trivial but embarrassing mistakes.

e.g. a slip of the tongue

LAPSE stresses forgetfulness, weakness, or inattention as a cause.

e.g. a lapse in judgment

1. a temporary failure of concentration, memory, or judgment:

ちょっとした間違い, 過失, 失敗(slip1)

e.g. a lapse of concentration in the second set cost her the match.

a weak or careless decline from previously high standards:

«…からの» 堕落, 退廃; 逸脱 «from» ; 【悪い状態に】陥ること «into»

e.g. tracing his lapse into petty crime.

Law the termination of a right or privilege through disuse or failure to follow appropriate procedures.

〘法〙 (権利･遺産の)失効

2. an interval or passage of time:

(時･人生などの)経過, 推移; 経過した時間; (過去の)一時期; (記憶などの)空白期間

e.g. there was a considerable lapse of time between the two events.

verb no object

1. (of a right, privilege, or agreement) become invalid because it is not used, claimed, or renewed; expire:

〘法〙 〈権利･財産などが〉消滅する, 失効する; 〖～ to A〗 Aに移る, 帰属を変更する

e.g. my membership to the gym has lapsed.

(of a state or activity) fail to be maintained; come to an end:

e.g. if your diet has lapsed it's time you revived it.

(of an adherent to a particular religion or doctrine) cease to follow the rules and practices of that religion or doctrine:

«…から» 道を踏みはずす; 逸脱する; 堕落する «from» ; «…に» 陥る, 〈悪癖などが〉出る «into»

e.g. many Christians in Britain have lapsed.

2. (lapse into) pass gradually into (an inferior state or condition):

〖～ into A〗 Aの状態になる

e.g. the country has lapsed into chaos.

revert to (a previous or more familiar style of speaking or behavior):

e.g. the girls lapsed into French.

late Middle English: from Latin lapsus, from labi ‘to glide, slip, or fall’; the verb reinforced by Latin lapsare ‘to slip or stumble’.