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
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
George Bernard ShawThe error was a simple oversight.
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
Greg Abel has already been exercising more management oversight over the non-insurance operating companies than Buffett ever did.
—Alex Crippen, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2025
Because of this oversight, auditors warned that employees living in the Yountville facilities might face unpaid tax liabilities.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 13 Dec. 2025
As the housing market generated greater wealth for Hong Kong’s tycoons, the construction and real-estate industries achieved growing immunity from regulatory oversight.
—Timothy McLaughlin, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2025
Tesla has repeatedly come under scrutiny for crashes involving its Autopilot system, raising debates about software reliability and driver oversight.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oversight
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Alex Crippen, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2025
Because of this oversight, auditors warned that employees living in the Yountville facilities might face unpaid tax liabilities.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 13 Dec. 2025
As the housing market generated greater wealth for Hong Kong’s tycoons, the construction and real-estate industries achieved growing immunity from regulatory oversight.
—Timothy McLaughlin, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2025
Tesla has repeatedly come under scrutiny for crashes involving its Autopilot system, raising debates about software reliability and driver oversight.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oversight
Cite this Entry
“Oversight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oversight. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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