Oversight
/ˈoʊ.vɚ.saɪt/noun
The act of supervising or watching over something; an unintentional mistake or omission.
Did you know?The word’s modern double meaning comes from two different senses of the same English phrase: “looking over” something could mean guarding it, but later also meant missing it by looking past it.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
ofersiht
“A looking over, inspection, or supervision.”
Middle English
ME
oversight
“Supervision, watchfulness, or the act of overlooking something.”
16th Century
English
oversight
“Careful supervision, especially of people or affairs.”
17th Century
English
oversight
“Also developed the sense of an error caused by overlooking something.”
Modern English
English
oversight
“Either supervision or an unintentional mistake or omission.”
Explore more surprising origins