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

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Etymology

Origin of oversight

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

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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

However, Liverpool councillor Kris Brown, who said he had raised concerns about the project's financial risks in 2021, called for strict oversight of the new funding.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

One thing Eagan is looking forward to is the new oversight board, external, although she is concerned it will not be truly independent.

From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026

Specifically, the innovation and technology committee provides oversight and guidance to management on the company’s tech strategy and implementation, Harter said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

When Hochman took office, he put McKinney in charge of specialized prosecutions, giving him oversight of a wide range of cases, including cop killings, juvenile crimes, gang homicides and child abuse.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

The bedroom door is open now, and I regret the oversight.

From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon

But many cases come down to small oversights — and the people caught off guard are often the ones who thought they had it taken care of.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

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

And the messy apartment I was sure to walk into; the flight numbers and so forth left deliberately, so it now seemed, by the phone; both were oversights unworthy of Henry.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

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Related Words

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

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