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

—G. B. Shaw

The error was a simple oversight.

Synonyms

• administration
• care
• charge
• conduct
• control
• direction
• governance
• government
• guidance
• handling
• intendance
• management
• operation
• presidency
• regulation
• running
• stewardship
• superintendence
• superintendency
• supervision

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

Location data companies like Gravy can also buy data from other brokers that harvest location information from various sources in the industry, derided by privacy advocates as a convoluted web of entities trading people’s private details with little oversight. —Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

Critics argue that such gaps in ethical oversight create the potential for conflicts of interest or undue influence. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025

As Senate Chair of the Energy and Technology Committee in the General Assembly, with oversight over electric utilities, Needleman of Essex has emerged as a leading Gillett defender and utility critic. —Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 9 Jan. 2025

As proposals stalled, the foundation for existing bank oversight became increasingly shaky thanks to bank-friendly courts. —Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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