oversight

American  

[oh-ver-sahyt] / ˈoʊ vərˌsaɪt /

noun

oversights plural

1. an omission or error due to carelessness.

   My bank statement is full of oversights.

   Synonyms:

   slip, blunder, mistake

2. unintentional failure to notice or consider; lack of proper attention.

   Owing to my oversight, the letter was sent unsigned.

   Synonyms:

   inattention, neglect, lapse, slip, blunder, mistake

3. supervision; watchful care.

   a person responsible for the oversight of the organization.

   Synonyms:

   surveillance, control, direction, management

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oversight British  

/ ˈəʊvəˌsaɪt /

noun

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

2. supervision

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• oversights
  plural

Etymology

Origin of oversight

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; over- + sight

Explanation

An oversight is a mistake you make when you're not paying full attention. Your failure to add the sugar to the cookies was an unfortunate oversight — you were so engrossed in texting that you forgot it. Oversights are not intentional mistakes. Usually they're just the result of inattention. If you make an oversight in your inspection of a nuclear power plant and it later goes into meltdown, you'll get fired. An inspector is supposed to pay attention. But if you forgot your cousin's birthday because you're busy taking care of Grandma, that's a forgivable oversight. Oversight is also the act of supervising something, like the construction of a dam, or a high school prom.

Example Sentences

Supervision of an agency is necessary to comply with the private nondelegation doctrine, a constitutional principle that prohibits Congress and agencies from delegating authority to private parties without sufficient government oversight.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 10, 2026

The changes are intended to improve “transparency, accountability, and oversight for Federal awards” while “ensuring that American tax dollars are not wasted or misused,” according to the White House office.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2026

If employers are lax in their oversight, workers might find themselves overpaying to invest in funds that underperform.

From Salon • Jul. 9, 2026

Freeholders say this overlooks the long-term oversight and legal accountability they provide, including maintaining buildings and acting as an independent party when disputes arise.

From BBC • Jul. 7, 2026

There were no cacti anywhere—another oversight on Fatty Bolger’s part, because I looked it up, and cacti are actually native to the Americas.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram

Related Words

• control
• handling
• inspection
• maintenance
• management
• surveillance