omission

noun

omis·​sion ō-ˈmi-shən 

ə-

1

a

: something neglected or left undone

There are a few omissions in the list.

b

: apathy toward or neglect of duty

The police officer was reprimanded for the omission of his duty to inform the suspect of his rights.

2

: the act of omitting : the state of being omitted

Her omission from the team was surprising.

Synonyms

• deletion

Examples of omission in a Sentence

There are a few omissions in the list.

the disk contains a selection of deleted scenes, and a couple of the omissions greatly add to the intelligibility of the movie's plot

Recent Examples on the Web

The fact that Gradius Gaiden and Gradius IV were included on the PSP Gradius Collection makes those omissions a little more obvious and perplexing as well, but perhaps they’re planned as updates, DLC, or something like that. —David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025

What all the strategic omissions make room for is a study of what happens to humanity when it’s refracted through a machine. —Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025

Protocol options are identical to the desktop experience with no glaring omissions. —PC Magazine, 1 Aug. 2025

An additional charge of injury to a child by omission was previously made against Tiffany but dismissed, court records show. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English omissioun, from Anglo-French omission, from Late Latin omission-, omissio, from Latin omittere

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for omission

• addition
• admission
• ambition
• attrition
• audition
• clinician
• cognition
• coition
• commission
• condition
• contrition
• dentition

Kids Definition

omission

noun

omis·​sion ō-ˈmish-ən 

ə-

1

: something omitted

2

: the act of omitting : the state of being omitted

Legal Definition

omission

noun

omis·​sion ō-ˈmi-shən 

1

: something neglected, left out, or left undone

2

: the act, fact, or state of leaving something out or failing to do something especially that is required by duty, procedure, or law

liable for a criminal act or omission