err

verb

ˈer  ˈər 

erred; erring; errs

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make a mistake

erred in his calculations

erred on the side of caution

b

: to violate an accepted standard of conduct

2

archaic : stray

Did you know?

Is it human to err?

Many people are familiar with the word err from encountering it in the epigram “to err is human; to forgive, divine.” This phrase is found in Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Criticism, from 1711. Earlier expressions of the same sentiment exist, as in Thomas Jones’ 1678 book, Of the Heart, and its Right Soveraign, which contains the line “to err, is human, to recover, is Angelical; to persevere is Diabolical.”

Err is also often found in the phrase err on the side of caution, to suggest that being overly cautious is better than not being cautious enough.

Err stems from the Latin word errare, meaning “to stray, wander,” and it retained that meaning when it first entered English. We find the same Latin ancestor at the root of the words error, erratic, and erroneous.

Synonyms

• blunder
• boob [British]
• flub
• fluff
• foul up
• fumble
• goof (up)
• louse up
• mess (up)
• screw up
• slip up
• stumble
• trip

Examples of err in a Sentence

I may have erred in my calculations.

The court erred in refusing to allow bail.

Recent Examples on the Web

Deters has since left the county to serve on the state Supreme Court, which is set to decide whether the Ohio First District Court of Appeals erred by not allowing Hamilton County to appeal Cross’ decision to overturn the verdict. —The Enquirer, 28 Mar. 2024

The Middle East is changing, in other words, even if policymakers erred in their assessment of those changes. —Gregg Carlstrom, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2024

Both men have shown changes associated with age since their first face-off in 2020, including erring in naming domestic and foreign leaders and various countries. —Lawrence K. Altman, STAT, 16 Feb. 2024

Prosecutors adamantly denied there was any type of arrangement and said the judge erred in overturning the jury verdict. —Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024

In late 2022, the appellate court disagreed, and ruled that the trial court erred in dismissing the recall on technical grounds, and ordered that court to evaluate Martin’s recall bid on its merits. —Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024

Gallagher erred by not changing venue for the trial because there was sufficient evidence to support the existence of a dangerous combination of influential people, Gill argued. —Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Feb. 2024

A day following the loss, the NFL said game officials erred in one of the two penalties Flowers received and Lions players continued to say they were cheated. —Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press, 22 Jan. 2024

When Rose erred by crossing the starting line early in the first race Saturday, she was relegated to last place and fell out of contention for victory. —Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French errer, from Latin errare to wander, err; akin to Old English ierre wandering, perverse, Goth airzeis deceived

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing err

• err on the side of
• to err is human
• err on the side of caution

Kids Definition

err

verb

ˈe(ə)r  ˈər 

1

: to make a mistake

erred in my calculations

2

: to do wrong : sin

Legal Definition

err

intransitive verb

ˈer, ˈər 

: to make an error

the court erred in denying the motion