oversight
UK: ˈəʊvəsaɪt | US: ˈoʊvərsaɪt
n. 1. The action of overseeing or supervising something.
n. 2. An unintentional failure to notice or do something; a mistake or omission.
The word "oversight" combines "over" (from Old English ofer, meaning "above" or "across") and "sight" (from Old English sihþ, meaning "vision" or "act of seeing"). Originally, it referred to the act of supervising or watching over something (literal "seeing from above"). By the 16th century, it developed a secondary sense of "failure to notice," likely due to the irony of missing something despite being in a position to observe it. This dual meaning reflects the word's logical progression from physical supervision to metaphorical omission.
The manager’s oversight ensured the project stayed on schedule.
The error occurred due to an oversight in the final review.
Regulatory oversight is crucial for financial stability.
She apologized for the oversight in the report.
The committee provides oversight of public spending.