Oversight — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈō-vər-ˌsīt/ over·sight

Meaning & Definition of Oversight

Oversight (noun)

  1. watchful and responsible care
  2. regulatory supervision
  3. an inadvertent omission or error

Oversight (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something

    "oversight of the club's fund-raising activities"

    similar: administration, care, charge, conduct, control, direction, governance, government, guidance, handling, intendance, management, operation, presidency, regulation, running, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision
    related: generalship, leadership, rulership, agency, aegis, custody, guardianship, keeping, lap, protection, safekeeping, trust, tutelage, ward, engineering, logistics, machination, manipulation, coadministration, codirection, comanagement

  2. an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy

    "claiming three billion instead of three million was just an oversight"

    similar: blunder, bobble, boo-boo, boob (British), brick, clanger (British), clinker, error, fault, flub, fluff, fumble, gaff, gaffe, goof, inaccuracy, lapse, miscue, misstep, mistake, screwup, slip, slipup, stumble, trip
    related: bloomer, blooper, boner, howler, pratfall, foul-up, snafu, misapprehension, miscalculation, miscomprehension, misconception, misconstruction, misdescription, misimpression, misinterpretation, misjudgment, misreading, misstatement, misunderstanding
    near: accuracy, correctness, exactitude, exactness, preciseness, precision, strictness, inerrancy, infallibility, perfection

  3. the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control

    "you'll have oversight of the troop until the scoutmaster returns"

    similar: care, charge, guidance, headship, regulation, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision, surveillance
    related: monitoring, observance, observation, observing, policing, administration, control, direction, generalship, hand(s), management, running, leadership, piloting, shepherding, steering, government, reign, rule, aegis, auspices, guardianship, protection, trusteeship, tutelage

  4. the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action

    "failing to lock the car can be an expensive oversight if it gets stolen"

    similar: default, delinquency, dereliction, failure, misprision, neglect, negligence, nonfeasance
    related: carelessness, heedlessness, inadvertence, inadvertency, laxity
    near: compliance, discharge, fulfillment

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Oversight

The most common words with a similar meaning to Oversight:

British: boob, clanger
administration, care, charge, conduct, control, direction, governance, government, guidance, handling, intendance, management, operation, presidency, regulation, running, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision, blunder, bobble, boo-boo, brick, clinker, error, fault, flub, fluff, fumble, gaff, gaffe, goof, inaccuracy, lapse, miscue, misstep, mistake, screwup, slip

Related Words for Oversight

generalship, leadership, rulership, agency, aegis, custody, guardianship, keeping, lap, protection, safekeeping, trust, tutelage, ward, engineering, logistics, machination, manipulation, coadministration, codirection, comanagement, bloomer, blooper, boner, howler, pratfall, foul-up, snafu, misapprehension, miscalculation

Near Antonyms of Oversight

accuracy, correctness, exactitude, exactness, preciseness, precision, strictness, inerrancy, infallibility, perfection, compliance, discharge, fulfillment

Origin & Etymology of Oversight

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Oversight

What does "Oversight" mean?

"Oversight" means watchful and responsible care. As a noun, it is defined as: watchful and responsible care. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Oversight"?

Other words for "Oversight" include administration, care, charge, conduct, control, direction, governance and government. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Oversight" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Oversight"?

There are 113 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Oversight". Common alternatives include administration, care, charge, conduct, control, direction, governance, government, guidance and handling.

How do you use "Oversight" in a sentence?

Examples of "Oversight" in a sentence: "oversight of the club's fund-raising activities"; "claiming three billion instead of three million was just an oversight"; "you'll have oversight of the troop until the scoutmaster returns".

Is "Oversight" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Oversight" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Oversight"?

"Oversight" is pronounced /ˈō-vər-ˌsīt/ and divided into syllables as over·sight.

What is the origin of the word "Oversight"?

First known use: 15th century.

What is another word for "Oversight" meaning "the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something"?

When "Oversight" (noun) means the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something, synonyms include administration, care, charge, conduct, control and direction.