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

Audits have found the agency lacked proper oversight over its funds and programs, leaving them susceptible to waste and fraud. —Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026

Consumers may pay the price Consumers have been hurt by a lack of oversight of GRAS substances in the past. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026

Many activities of the military are also cloaked in secrecy that makes democratic oversight and accountability difficult. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026

Since then, an initial report from the oversight arm of CBP contradicted the narrative of Pretti's death. —Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 3 Mar. 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