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
Green had surgery in June to stabilize his left shoulder and the Hornets have brought him along slowly over the last six months, preferring to err on the side of caution.
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Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 3 Dec. 2025
Because of that, settlement predictions usually err on the side of caution.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
When in doubt, err on the side of caution and throw out food that may have spoiled during your journey.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2025
Conner ultimately wants to err on the side of believing the person who said they were inappropriately touched but the story isn’t adding up.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for err on the side of
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Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 3 Dec. 2025
Because of that, settlement predictions usually err on the side of caution.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
When in doubt, err on the side of caution and throw out food that may have spoiled during your journey.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2025
Conner ultimately wants to err on the side of believing the person who said they were inappropriately touched but the story isn’t adding up.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 14 Nov. 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 12 Dec. 2025.
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