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 …—George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard 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
Previous jailbreaks this year have spurred policy debates and raised questions on jail oversight and maintenance, with repercussions for public safety and criminal justice administration statewide.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
Autonomy with human oversight Despite its intelligence, Roberta doesn’t act alone.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 5 Dec. 2025
Preservationists and some lawmakers have criticized the project since the East Wing teardown, raising questions about oversight and historic protections.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
Other congressional Democrats have attempted to carry out oversight visits at ICE detention centers or speak to leaders like Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, often leading to confrontations with officers and security.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oversight
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Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
Autonomy with human oversight Despite its intelligence, Roberta doesn’t act alone.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 5 Dec. 2025
Preservationists and some lawmakers have criticized the project since the East Wing teardown, raising questions about oversight and historic protections.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
Other congressional Democrats have attempted to carry out oversight visits at ICE detention centers or speak to leaders like Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, often leading to confrontations with officers and security.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 5 Dec. 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 7 Dec. 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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