Definition of err
intransitive verb
1 archaic : stray
2a : to make a mistake erred in his calculations erred on the side of cautionb : to violate an accepted standard of conduct
From the M-W Editors
Examples of err in a Sentence
I may have erred in my calculations.
The court erred in refusing to allow bail.
Recent Examples of err from the Web
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In particular, the attorneys said an electrical line was too small to supply the warehouse and that firefighters erred by punching a hole in the roof of the structure shortly after arriving that drew air into the building and fanned the flames.
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The coffee flavor is pretty subtle, (think, less powerful than coffee ice cream) probably due to the fact that these are trying to emulate a mocha, and specifically a Dunkin’ mocha—which err on the sweeter, creamier side—at that.
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While some folks manage to escape the warmer months relatively unscathed — err, unbitten — others aren't quite so lucky.
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An MRI showed no damage, but the Sox have erred on the side of caution to assure their potential All-Star is healthy.
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The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals held that Judge Richard L. Young in the Southern District had erred in denying the class certifications and sent it back to the lower court.
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Peters allowed Everette's case to be reopened at the direction of the Court of Special Appeals, which ruled in March that another lower court judge had erred in rejecting Gioia and Enzinna's joint motion to revisit Everette's sentencing.
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The 10-year yield ended last week at 2.15 percent, after touching the lowest levels of 2017 as weaker-than-forecast inflation data stoked speculation that the Fed was erring with its tightening plans.
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That signaled to some that the court might have thought the panel erred in its interpretation and again opened the door for the court to review the issue of legislative prayer.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'err.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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.
Origin and Etymology of err
Middle English, from Anglo-French errer, from Latin errare to wander, err; akin to Old English ierre wandering, perverse, Goth airzeis deceived
ERR Defined for English Language Learners
ERR Defined for Kids
Law Dictionary
err
playLegal Definition of err
: to make an error the court erred in denying the motion
Learn More about err
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See words that rhyme with err Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for err Spanish Central: Translation of err Nglish: Translation of err for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of err for Arabic speakers
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