oversight

[oh-ver-sahyt]

See more synonyms for oversight on Thesaurus.com

noun

an omission or error due to carelessness: My bank statement is full of oversights.
unintentional failure to notice or consider; lack of proper attention: Owing to my oversight, the letter was sent unsigned.
supervision; watchful care: a person responsible for the oversight of the organization.

Origin of oversight

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at over-, sight

Can be confusedoverlook oversee oversight

Synonyms for oversight

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1, 2. mistake, blunder, slip. 2. lapse, neglect, inattention. 3. management, direction, control; surveillance.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for oversight

lapse, neglect, mistake, control, management, surveillance, handling, maintenance, inspection, overlook, miscue, default, fault, inattention, error, laxity, blunder, blank, chasm, dereliction

Examples from the Web for oversight

Contemporary Examples of oversight

They have argued in court that they are not public and therefore they are not subject to the oversight that public entities are.
Hunger Games Comes to New York State’s Public Schools
Zephyr Teachout
November 26, 2014
Third, the destruction: These hedge-fund managers want to eliminate all limits and oversight of charter schools.
Hunger Games Comes to New York State’s Public Schools
Zephyr Teachout
November 26, 2014
The omission of contributor information on future reports should not be assumed to be an oversight.
Mystery Man Buys Kentucky for the GOP
Center for Public Integrity
October 29, 2014
The lack of oversight is perhaps the worst aspect of this type of work.
Finally, Home Care Workers Start Fighting Back
Monica Potts
October 19, 2014
Roark was a staffer on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and focused on NSA oversight.
Speed Read: James Risen Indicts The War On Terror’s Costly Follies
William O’Connor
October 14, 2014

Historical Examples of oversight

But those who judge thus are guilty of a most remarkable act of oversight.
Freeland
Theodor Hertzka
By any thinking man the effect of this oversight will be instantly perceived.
Ruggles of Red Gap
Harry Leon Wilson
"He calls an oversight forgery, sir," returned the latter huskily.
Homeward Bound
James Fenimore Cooper
"Nor I either," said he, half chagrined, for his move was an oversight.
The O'Donoghue
Charles James Lever
This word is in the original text printed twice by an oversight.
Shakespeare Jest-Books;
Unknown

British Dictionary definitions for oversight

oversight

noun

an omission or mistake, esp one made through failure to notice something
supervision

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

Word Origin and History for oversight

"supervision," early 14c., from over- + sight. Meaning "omission of notice, fact of passing over without seeing" attested from late 15c.; cf. oversee.