oversight

noun

over·​sight ˈō-vər-ˌsīt How to pronounce oversight (audio)
1
a
: watchful and responsible care
you to whom oversight of the University is entrustedN. 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 intentionG. B. Shaw
The 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These individuals may easily end up negotiating deals or directing the course of events while escaping both congressional oversight and public scrutiny. Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2025 Gemma is a high-profile author and advocate for government oversight of A.I. Nick Romano, EW.com, 3 Feb. 2025 The five personnel in the air traffic control tower included an operations supervisor with oversight of the tower and an operations supervisor in training, Inman said. Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2025 Whitaker held the job for 15 months, with the last few marred by criticism from prominent Trump supporter and now-White House official Elon Musk, who chafed at the agency's oversight of his company SpaceX. Who is Christopher Rochelau? Graham Kates, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for oversight 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of oversight was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near oversight

Cite this Entry

“Oversight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oversight. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

oversight

noun
over·​sight -ˌsīt How to pronounce oversight (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on oversight

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