err

verb

ˈer  ˈər 

erred; erring; errs

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make a mistake

erred in his calculations

erred on the side of caution

b

: to violate an accepted standard of conduct

2

archaic : stray

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.

Synonyms

• blunder
• boob [British]
• flub
• fluff
• foul up
• fumble
• goof (up)
• louse up
• mess (up)
• screw up
• slip up
• stumble
• trip

Examples of err in a Sentence

I may have erred in my calculations.

The court erred in refusing to allow bail.

Recent Examples on the Web

To have done anything less would have been an admission that there was something wrong with what his supporters did on Jan. 6, or that the cause of overturning the 2020 election was somehow unjustified, or that anyone defending Mr. Trump’s view of the world had erred. —Jonathan Swan, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025

On Tuesday, the Ninth Circuit appeals court judges ruled that their district court colleague erred in relying on the 2020 court order. —Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2025

The Court will consider whether or not the lower court erred in ruling that the Higher Education Act of 1965 doesn't allow for borrowers to file for borrower defense before default. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025

The court found that Lewis Kaplan did not err in allowing that video to be shown. —Graham Kates, CBS News, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French errer, from Latin errare to wander, err; akin to Old English ierre wandering, perverse, Goth airzeis deceived

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing err

• err on the side of
• err on the side of caution
• to err is human

Kids Definition

err

verb

ˈe(ə)r  ˈər 

1

: to make a mistake

erred in my calculations

2

: to do wrong : sin

Legal Definition

err

intransitive verb

ˈer, ˈər 

: to make an error

the court erred in denying the motion