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
The bill is designed to ensure oversight agencies share information with each other.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026
Federal investigators have voiced concerns about weak oversight for skydiving operators in past crash investigations, citing the need for stronger aircraft inspections.
—ABC News, 15 June 2026
But the actual day-to-day oversight of the FX linear channels fall under Disney Entertainment Television chairman Debra OConnell’s organization; Chuck Saftler oversees business operations for FX, as well as ABC and Freeform.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 15 June 2026
Investigators are probing why the specialized skydiving plane apparently lost power and plunged nose‑first, renewing questions about federal oversight even as the industry points to millions of jumps and relatively few deaths.
—John Seewer, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for oversight
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Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026
Federal investigators have voiced concerns about weak oversight for skydiving operators in past crash investigations, citing the need for stronger aircraft inspections.
—ABC News, 15 June 2026
But the actual day-to-day oversight of the FX linear channels fall under Disney Entertainment Television chairman Debra OConnell’s organization; Chuck Saftler oversees business operations for FX, as well as ABC and Freeform.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 15 June 2026
Investigators are probing why the specialized skydiving plane apparently lost power and plunged nose‑first, renewing questions about federal oversight even as the industry points to millions of jumps and relatively few deaths.
—John Seewer, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for oversight
Cite this Entry
“Oversight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oversight. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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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