noun
Common
oversight
OH-vuh-syt
Oversight (noun) means a mistake made by failing to notice or consider something. Example: “It was an oversight on my part, and I apologise for the confusion.”
noun
1
A mistake made by failing to notice or consider something.
"It was an oversight on my part, and I apologise for the confusion."
"Forgetting to attach the file was a careless oversight, but easily fixed."
"Leaving her name off the list was a simple oversight."
2
The responsibility of supervising and checking how something is run.
"A small team has oversight of the project and checks progress each week."
"Parents need to provide oversight when children use the internet at home."
"The committee provides oversight of the university's spending."
How to use oversight
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither an accidental slip-up, or the formal act of supervising and checking on something.
Common mistake
Context decides the meaning: "due to an oversight" = a mistake; "regulatory oversight" = supervision.
Common pairings
regulatory oversight
a minor oversight
oversight committee
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like oversight.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- oversights
- Third person singular
- oversights
- Past tense
- oversighted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was an _____ on my part, and I apologise for the confusion.
Etymology
Built from over- + sight, so it literally covers both "watching over" and "looking past" something — hence its two opposite-feeling meanings.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “oversight” mean?
The word “oversight” means a mistake made by failing to notice or consider something. In plain terms, either an accidental slip-up, or the formal act of supervising and checking on something.
How do you pronounce “oversight”?
“Oversight” is pronounced OH-vuh-syt (/ˈoʊvɚˌsaɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “oversight” in a sentence?
Here is “oversight” used in a sentence: “Leaving her name off the list was a simple oversight.”
What part of speech is “oversight”?
“Oversight” is a noun.
Is “oversight” a common word?
“Oversight” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “oversight” have?
“Oversight” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a mistake made by failing to notice or consider something.
What is the difference between an oversight and a mistake?
An oversight is a specific kind of mistake caused by failing to notice or consider something, often something small that was simply missed. A mistake is a broader term that can also include errors of judgment or execution, not just things overlooked.
What is the difference between oversight meaning a mistake and oversight meaning supervision?
Oversight has two distinct senses: it can mean an unintentional mistake caused by not noticing something, or it can mean the responsibility of supervising and checking how something is run, as in regulatory oversight. Context usually makes clear which meaning is intended.
Is oversight used in formal or business writing?
Yes, oversight is common in formal and business contexts in both senses, whether apologizing for an administrative oversight or describing the oversight a board provides over a company's operations.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include oversight:
