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
Vaccine developers can profit from their products, but designing and testing a vaccine is a lot more work than selling a plant flavonol called quercetin as a treatment for COVID, and supplements are not subject to the same kind of regulatory oversight as drugs.
—Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 27 June 2025
The resolution is part of a broader debate over executive war powers and the need for legislative oversight in military decisions.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
Underestimating The Complexity Of Device Retrieval And Wiping One critical oversight is underestimating the complexity of reverse logistics for device retrieval and secure data wiping during offboarding.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Bonds has served as the GHA executive director since February 2021, after the troubled agency emerged from eight years of federal oversight.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for oversight
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Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 27 June 2025
The resolution is part of a broader debate over executive war powers and the need for legislative oversight in military decisions.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
Underestimating The Complexity Of Device Retrieval And Wiping One critical oversight is underestimating the complexity of reverse logistics for device retrieval and secure data wiping during offboarding.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Bonds has served as the GHA executive director since February 2021, after the troubled agency emerged from eight years of federal oversight.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 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 Jul. 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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