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

See Examples For:

oversight oversights

Norfolk Southern completed the cleanup under EPA oversight.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

The Ministry of Justice says the government is considering how to strengthen the PFD system to improve oversight.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

In California, state leaders once attempted to shut down privately run detention centers and, after losing, resorted instead to proposing other oversight measures.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

While the tribe no longer needs BIA approval for each energy-related lease or agreement, the Interior Department still retains some oversight, and interested parties can petition for compliance review.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

But there was no such federal oversight at the time.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Alejandro, the gas station attendant, said he felt there were "too few oversights" of mining projects.

From Barron's ● May 23, 2026

Mistakes or oversights in DOT regulations could lead to lawsuits or even injuries and deaths in the transportation system.

From Salon ● Feb. 2, 2026

The report blamed the upgrade delays on a number of oversights, including failure to develop a plan for managing all of its facilities projects, which are instead proceeding separately.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 22, 2025

“Serious oversights like this not only jeopardize the integrity of individual cases but also sow public distrust in the criminal legal system and call into question the efficacy and accuracy of criminal investigations.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2025

It may be pointed out, of course, that as far as long-distance motoring is concerned, I am something of a novice, and such simple oversights are only to be expected.

From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro

Related Words

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