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—G. B. Shaw
G. B. 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
Meta, the parent of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, frequently engages with federal digital policy initiatives and AI oversight forums.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
Common oversights include everything from not packing a universal adapter to lacking the right outfit for events like high tea or a night out at the theater.
—Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
As Musk continues to repeat his prediction that a Tesla FSD system with no need for human oversight is right around the corner, the company faces multiple lawsuits over deaths from road accidents involving a Tesla vehicle that had assistance features activated.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Waymo and other self-driving startups used a combination of cameras, lidar, and other sensors and built a complex network of fail-safes, detailed mapping, and human oversight.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oversight
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Dave Smith, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
Common oversights include everything from not packing a universal adapter to lacking the right outfit for events like high tea or a night out at the theater.
—Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
As Musk continues to repeat his prediction that a Tesla FSD system with no need for human oversight is right around the corner, the company faces multiple lawsuits over deaths from road accidents involving a Tesla vehicle that had assistance features activated.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Waymo and other self-driving startups used a combination of cameras, lidar, and other sensors and built a complex network of fail-safes, detailed mapping, and human oversight.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 24 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 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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