err on the side of
idiom
: to use or show more of (something) than may be needed so that one can be sure that he or she is using or showing enough of it
It's better to err on the side of generosity than to appear too stingy.
We chose to err on the side of caution when planning our investments.
Examples of err on the side of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On especially hot summer days, err on the side of caution.
—
Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Aug. 2025
Combined with signs of a shakier labor market, investors are more convinced that the Fed will err on the side of supporting the economy by lowering interest rates to support overall business activity.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
Rob McKinney, a defense attorney, understands why officers might err on the side of caution if their department does not use breath tests.
—Evan Mealins, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
But the Times’ topmost editors wanted to err on the side of caution.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for err on the side of
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Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Aug. 2025
Combined with signs of a shakier labor market, investors are more convinced that the Fed will err on the side of supporting the economy by lowering interest rates to support overall business activity.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
Rob McKinney, a defense attorney, understands why officers might err on the side of caution if their department does not use breath tests.
—Evan Mealins, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
But the Times’ topmost editors wanted to err on the side of caution.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for err on the side of
Cite this Entry
“Err on the side of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/err%20on%20the%20side%20of. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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