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

The agency’s new social-media threat monitoring program receives oversight from the ICE Privacy Office, in consultation with DHS’ Privacy Office, government documents show.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

But Sir Brian Leveson, the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, who provides independent oversight of the use of surveillance powers, has previously criticised media use of the term "backdoor", external.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

A month later, it unexpectedly removed Albert Manifold as BP chairman, citing "serious concerns" about governance standards, oversight and conduct at the company, which he has denied.

From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026

The prosecution said unregistered children's homes operate without oversight, meaning children who are placed there have no assurance of "safe or suitable care".

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

It seems not to be an oversight, but, rather, something intended to explode the relationship.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

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

From Barron's ● May 23, 2026

The Justice Department scrambled to fix the oversights.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 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

“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

Sophisticated printed illustrations based on perspective drawings thus turned anatomy into a progressive science, where each generation of anatomists was able to identify mistakes and oversights in the work of their predecessors.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

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