Did you know?
Is it human to err?
Many people are familiar with the word err from encountering it in the epigram “to err is human; to forgive, divine.” This phrase is found in Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Criticism, from 1711. Earlier expressions of the same sentiment exist, as in Thomas Jones’ 1678 book, Of the Heart, and its Right Soveraign, which contains the line “to err, is human, to recover, is Angelical; to persevere is Diabolical.”
Err is also often found in the phrase err on the side of caution, to suggest that being overly cautious is better than not being cautious enough.
Err stems from the Latin word errare, meaning “to stray, wander,” and it retained that meaning when it first entered English. We find the same Latin ancestor at the root of the words error, erratic, and erroneous.
Examples of err in a Sentence
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 30 July 2025
Normally, chocolate cake with chocolate frosting is not my favorite combo, as this can err on the overwhelming side.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 July 2025
An algorithm trained on millions of transactions is less likely to err than the tired analyst eyeballing column AB at 11:58 p.m.
—Axel Rebien, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
The defense also said the court erred by not allowing them to DNA test two strands of hair recovered from Rogers' vehicle, which police found roughly two days after her disappearance.
—Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for err
Cite this Entry
“Err.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/err. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
err
intransitive verb
Share