Definition

1. Noun:
   • A mistake resulting from inattention: An error or failure to notice or do something, often due to carelessness.
   • Management by overseeing the performance or operation of a person or group: The function of supervising, watching over, and directing something.
   • An unintentional omission resulting from failure to notice something: Something that has been forgotten or missed accidentally.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Mistake):
  • The accounting error was a simple oversight that was quickly corrected.
  • Due to an oversight, your name was left off the guest list.
• Noun (Supervision):
  • The committee provides oversight for all new construction projects.
  • The new law increases government oversight of the financial industry.

Advanced Usage

• "under the oversight of": being supervised or managed by a person or group.
  • The project was completed under the oversight of a senior engineer.
• "to have oversight of/over something": to be responsible for supervising something.
  • She has oversight of the entire marketing department.

Variants and Related Words

• Oversee (verb): To watch over and direct (work or people).
  • He was hired to oversee the manufacturing process.
• Overseer (noun): A person who supervises others, especially workers.
  • The overseer ensured the team met its daily targets.

Synonyms

• Supervision: The action of supervising someone or something.
• Mistake: An action or judgment that is misguided or wrong.
• Omission: Someone or something that has been left out or excluded.

Related Phrases

• "lapse in oversight": a temporary failure in supervision or attention.
  • The security breach was caused by a lapse in oversight.
• "regulatory oversight": supervision by a government or official body to ensure rules are followed.
  • The industry lacks sufficient regulatory oversight.

Related Idioms

• "A slip of the pen is an oversight, a slip of the tongue is a mistake.": This proverb distinguishes between a minor written error (oversight) and a potentially more serious spoken error.

Noun

1. a mistake resulting from inattention
2. management by overseeing the performance or operation of a person or group
3. an unintentional omission resulting from failure to notice something