Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of leaving something out or failing to do something: "Omission" refers to the act of neglecting to include or perform something that is expected or required.
   • Something that has been left out or excluded: "Omission" can also refer to the specific item, detail, or action that was neglected or excluded.
   • A mistake or failure resulting from neglect: In a broader sense, "omission" describes an error or shortcoming caused by a failure to act or include necessary information.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The omission of her name from the guest list was a serious oversight. (The act of leaving her name out was a mistake.)
  • There are several omissions in the report that need to be corrected. (There are specific details missing from the report.)
  • His omission to lock the door led to the burglary. (His failure to perform the act of locking caused a problem.)

Advanced Usage

• "Sins of omission": This phrase refers to wrongs or faults that occur because of a failure to do what is right or required, as opposed to committing an overt act ("sins of commission").
  • In her confession, she spoke of her sins of omission, like failing to help those in need.
• "By omission": Describing how something is characterized or made untrue by what is left out.
  • The article misled the public by omission, failing to mention key facts.

Variants and Related Words

• Omit (verb): To leave out or exclude; to fail to do something.
  • Please do not omit any details from your statement.
• Omissible (adjective): Capable of being omitted.
  • This section is omissible if you are short on time.

Synonyms

• Exclusion: The act of leaving someone or something out.
• Oversight: An unintentional failure to notice or do something.
• Neglect: The state of being uncared for or the failure to do required care.
• Lacuna: A gap or missing part, especially in a text or argument.

Related Phrases

• Error of omission: A specific type of mistake resulting from something being left undone or unrecorded.
  • An error of omission in the bookkeeping made the accounts unbalanced.
• Act of omission: A legal or ethical term for a failure to act, which can sometimes carry liability.
  • The court considered his failure to warn others an actionable act of omission.

Related Idioms

• What is left unsaid: This idiom highlights the significance of omissions in communication, implying that meaning can be derived from what is not stated.
  • In diplomacy, what is left unsaid is often as important as the spoken words.

Noun

1. neglecting to do something; leaving out or passing over something
2. any process whereby sounds or words are left out of spoken words or phrases
3. something that has been omitted
   • she searched the table for omissions
4. a mistake resulting from neglect