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

Chris Delmas | Afp | Getty Images But Judge Jia Cobb in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., ruled last month that the the regulator had erred in finding that KalshiEx’s congressional contracts involved gaming or gambling. —Dan Mangan, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2024

The preparations, as two sources described it, also led to establishing around-the-clock staffing for weeks to monitor for any uploads of Israeli hostages and err toward removals. —Paresh Dave, WIRED, 2 July 2024

But Dartmouth contends Sacks erred in her interpretation of employment. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2024

But that conviction was overturned in April after a state appellate court, in a 4-3 decision, determined the judge had erred by allowing women to testify about allegations that were not part of the case. —Adam Reiss, NBC News, 12 Sep. 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
• err on the side of caution
• to err is human

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