oversight

noun

over·​sight ˈō-vər-ˌsīt 

1

a

: watchful and responsible care

… you to whom oversight of the University is entrusted …

—N. M. Pusey

b

: regulatory supervision

congressional oversight

The new manager was given oversight of the project.

2

: an inadvertent omission or error

… whether by oversight or intention …

—George Bernard Shaw

The error was a simple oversight.

Synonyms of oversight

• management
• supervision
• control
• operation
• administration
• handling
• stewardship
• government
• direction
• governance

Examples of oversight in a Sentence

The fact that you didn't get an invitation is surely just an oversight.

The error was a simple oversight.

The new manager was given oversight of the project.

Recent Examples on the Web

If accurate, the account could add to growing concerns about the oversight of Jaxon’s case in the days leading up to his death. —Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 20 Apr. 2026

Billing requires constant oversight. —Victoria Chynoweth, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026

The state created oversight structures to track equity progress, including the Cannabis Equity Commission. —Sonya M. Harper, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026

In many cases, that means people shift into roles focused on oversight, maintenance or more skilled tasks. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for oversight

• acolyte
• aconite
• allanite
• alunite
• amberlite
• ammonite
• amorite
• amphitrite
• analyte
• anchorite
• andesite
• anhydrite

Kids Definition

oversight

noun

over·​sight -ˌsīt 

1

: the act or duty of overseeing : supervision

have the oversight of a job

2

: an error or a leaving something out through carelessness or haste