oversight
noun
over·sight
ˈō-vər-ˌsīt 
1
a
: watchful and responsible care
you to whom oversight of the University is entrusted—
N. M. Pusey
N. M. Pusey
b
: regulatory supervision
congressional oversight
The new manager was given oversight of the project.
2
: an inadvertent omission or error
whether by oversight or intention—G. B. Shaw
G. B. ShawThe error was a simple oversight.
Examples of oversight in a Sentence
The fact that you didn't get an invitation is surely just an oversight.
The error was a simple oversight.
The new manager was given oversight of the project.
Recent Examples on the Web
During his rocky tenure at City Hall, in addition to the four lawsuits, he was rebuked in an oversight report for pushing security guards at a migrant shelter then providing false information to cops in ordering the guards arrested.
—Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 2 Aug. 2025
Prioritize ethical practices Look for programs with transparent impact metrics and community oversight.
—Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
The recalls underscore concerns about safety oversight for products marketed by third-party sellers on e-commerce platforms, particularly for children's products with potentially hazardous defects.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Aug. 2025
It is also being reviewed by the Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board, the county’s civilian oversight body.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oversight
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Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 2 Aug. 2025
Prioritize ethical practices Look for programs with transparent impact metrics and community oversight.
—Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
The recalls underscore concerns about safety oversight for products marketed by third-party sellers on e-commerce platforms, particularly for children's products with potentially hazardous defects.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Aug. 2025
It is also being reviewed by the Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board, the county’s civilian oversight body.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oversight
Cite this Entry
“Oversight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oversight. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
oversight
noun
over·sight
-ˌsīt
1
: the act or duty of overseeing : supervision
have the oversight of a job
2
: an error or a leaving something out through carelessness or haste
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