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 Peters is right, the industry can’t treat AI oversight as a specialist job for its most technical people. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

The bond would require a citizens’ oversight committee and annual independent performance and financial audits to ensure the money is spent as specified in the measure. — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Though the document left the door open to further regulation, comments from House Speaker Mike Johnson made the push for AI oversight in Congress much more unlikely. — Ari Levy, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026

Because the deal hasn’t yet closed, Bloys’ oversight might not be announced until next week, which keeps things in a bit of a limbo until then. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 30 Sep. 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