err

[ er, ur ]
See synonyms for: errerrederringerrable on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)
  1. to go astray in thought or belief; be mistaken; be incorrect.

  2. to go astray morally; sin: To err is human.

  1. Archaic. to deviate from the true course, aim, or purpose.

Idioms about err

  1. err on the side of caution. See entry at err on the side of caution.

Origin of err

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English erren, from Old French errer, from Latin errāre “to make a mistake; wander”; akin to Gothic airzjan, Old High German irrôn (German irren )

Other words for err

Other words from err

  • err·a·bil·i·ty [er-uh-bil-i-tee, ur-] /ˌɛr əˈbɪl ɪ ti, ˌɜr-/ noun
  • err·a·ble, adjective

Words that may be confused with err

Words Nearby err

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use err in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for err

err

/ (ɜː) /


verb(intr)
  1. to make a mistake; be incorrect

  2. to stray from the right course or accepted standards; sin

  1. to act with bias, esp favourable bias: to err on the side of justice

Origin of err

1
C14: erren to wander, stray, from Old French errer, from Latin errāre

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012