error
EH-ruh
Error (noun) means a mistake, especially one made unintentionally. Example: “The invoice had an error in the total amount.”
noun
1
A mistake, especially one made unintentionally.
"The invoice had an error in the total amount."
"It was human error that caused the delay, not a system fault."
"I made a silly error when I copied the phone number down."
2
A malfunction or fault reported by a machine or computer program.
"The app crashed and displayed an error message."
"The program showed an error and then closed without saving my work."
"If the printer reports an error, turn it off and on again."
3
The difference between a measured or calculated value and the true or correct value.
"The experiment had a margin of error of about two percent."
"The scale has a small error, so it shows a weight slightly too high."
"Careful measuring helps to reduce error in the results."
How to use error
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA mistake — something that was done, said, or calculated incorrectly.
Common pairings
human error
margin of error
error message
trial and error
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Word forms
- Plural
- errors
- Third person singular
- errors
- Past tense
- errored
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The invoice had an _____ in the total amount.
Etymology
From Old French error, from Latin error, "a wandering about, a mistake," from errāre, "to wander or stray."
Synonyms
View more →
oversight
miscalculation
aberration
bloomer
blooper
blunder
boner
boo-boo
break
clanger
cock-up
fault
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for error
See all rhymes for error →Frequently asked questions
What does “error” mean?
The word “error” means a mistake, especially one made unintentionally. In plain terms, a mistake — something that was done, said, or calculated incorrectly.
How do you pronounce “error”?
“Error” is pronounced EH-ruh (/ˈɛɹəɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “error” in a sentence?
Here is “error” used in a sentence: “The invoice had an error in the total amount.”
What is another word for “error”?
Words with a similar meaning to “error” include aberration, bloomer, blooper, blunder, boner and boo-boo.
What part of speech is “error”?
“Error” is a noun.
Where does the word “error” come from?
The word “error” comes from Latin. From Old French error, from Latin error, "a wandering about, a mistake," from errāre, "to wander or stray.".
Is “error” a common word?
“Error” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “error” have?
“Error” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a mistake, especially one made unintentionally.
What is the difference between an error and a mistake?
The two words overlap, but there is a subtle distinction. A mistake is the everyday term for getting something wrong, often through a lapse in judgement. An error is slightly more formal and technical, common in science, computing, and measurement, where it means any deviation from the correct or expected result.
What are the main types of error?
Errors are often grouped by cause. Human error results from a person's slip or oversight, while systematic errors come from a consistent flaw in a method or instrument. Random errors are unpredictable variations, and typographical errors are simple slips in writing or typing. Each type calls for a different way of catching and correcting it.
What is an example of an error?
A misspelled word in a document, a wrong figure in a spreadsheet, or a miscalculation in a sum are all common errors. In computing, an error message appears when a program cannot complete a task. What unites them is that the outcome differs from what was intended or correct.
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