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.
Synonyms
- administration
- care
- charge
- conduct
- control
- direction
- governance
- government
- guidance
- handling
- intendance
- management
- operation
- presidency
- regulation
- running
- stewardship
- superintendence
- superintendency
- supervision
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 The anger boiled over last month in a Senate committee hearing where lawmakers blamed the United Network for Organ Sharing, a nonprofit that holds a government contract to run the transplant system, for cumbersome organ-tracking and poor oversight. Lauran Neergaard, ajc, 9 Sep. 2022 After objecting for years to meaningful federal oversight, cryptocurrency lobbyists have recently shifted their focus to convincing lawmakers and regulators that the CFTC should have primary jurisdiction over their industry. Andrew Ackerman, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 The Federal Aviation Administration issued new rules Wednesday designed to guarantee the independence of engineers employed by Boeing and other aviation companies tasked with performing safety oversight on the government’s behalf. Ian Duncan, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 German reported on Robert Telles' oversight of his office writing that Telles created a hostile work environment and carried on an inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Nick Watt And Chuck Johnston, CNN, 7 Sep. 2022 Some of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges are welcoming more federal oversight. Freddy Brewster, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2022 Effective oversight is vital for the nonprofit world to thrive. Jasper Craven, The New Republic, 29 Aug. 2022 Also contributing to the shroud of secrecy: Valuable art can be held and traded by offshore shell companies in free ports in places such as Geneva and Singapore to avoid taxes and other oversight. Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2022 There’s no pivoting into portrait mode, though, which feels like an oversight, considering the monitor’s focus on mobility. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 26 Aug. 2022 See More
Lauran Neergaard, ajc, 9 Sep. 2022 After objecting for years to meaningful federal oversight, cryptocurrency lobbyists have recently shifted their focus to convincing lawmakers and regulators that the CFTC should have primary jurisdiction over their industry. Andrew Ackerman, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 The Federal Aviation Administration issued new rules Wednesday designed to guarantee the independence of engineers employed by Boeing and other aviation companies tasked with performing safety oversight on the government’s behalf. Ian Duncan, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 German reported on Robert Telles' oversight of his office writing that Telles created a hostile work environment and carried on an inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Nick Watt And Chuck Johnston, CNN, 7 Sep. 2022 Some of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges are welcoming more federal oversight. Freddy Brewster, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2022 Effective oversight is vital for the nonprofit world to thrive. Jasper Craven, The New Republic, 29 Aug. 2022 Also contributing to the shroud of secrecy: Valuable art can be held and traded by offshore shell companies in free ports in places such as Geneva and Singapore to avoid taxes and other oversight. Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2022 There’s no pivoting into portrait mode, though, which feels like an oversight, considering the monitor’s focus on mobility. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 26 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
oversight
noun
over·sight ˈō-vər-ˌsīt
1
: the act or duty of overseeing : watchful care He was assigned oversight of the project.
2
: an error or something forgotten through carelessness or haste It was surely an oversight that you weren't invited.
oversight
noun
1
as in supervision
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something oversight of the club's fund-raising activities Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- supervision
- management
- administration
- handling
- control
- operation
- stewardship
- government
- governance
- direction
- regulation
- leadership
- guidance
- conduct
- presidency
- superintendence
- charge
- care
- running
- superintendency
- intendance
- agency
- custody
- protection
- logistics
- manipulation
- engineering
- guardianship
- safekeeping
- trust
- rulership
- generalship
- tutelage
- keeping
- ward
- aegis
- lap
- machination
- comanagement
- codirection
- coadministration
- egis
2
as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy claiming "three billion" instead of "three million" was just an oversight Synonyms & Similar Words
- mistake
- error
- blunder
- inaccuracy
- screwup
- misstep
- flub
- lapse
- miscue
- slipup
- goof
- fumble
- fault
- trip
- gaffe
- stumble
- brick
- bobble
- gaff
- boob
- boo-boo
- clanger
- snafu
- slip
- misunderstanding
- fluff
- clinker
- misjudgment
- misinterpretation
- miscalculation
- misstatement
- misconstruction
- foul-up
- misimpression
- misreading
- pratfall
- misconception
- howler
- blooper
- misapprehension
- miscomprehension
- misdescription
- boner
- bloomer
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- accuracy
- precision
- strictness
- exactness
- correctness
- preciseness
- exactitude
- infallibility
- perfection
- inerrancy
3
as in stewardship
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- supervision
- stewardship
- management
- regulation
- leadership
- control
- policing
- surveillance
- care
- charge
- guidance
- superintendence
- administration
- government
- monitoring
- superintendency
- direction
- observation
- headship
- observing
- steering
- observance
- protection
- running
- shepherding
- auspices
- rule
- guardianship
- generalship
- piloting
- trusteeship
- reign
- hand(s)
- tutelage
- aegis
- egis
4
as in negligence
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action failing to lock the car can be an expensive oversight if it gets stolen Synonyms & Similar Words
- negligence
- neglect
- failure
- nonfeasance
- default
- carelessness
- delinquency
- laxity
- dereliction
- inadvertence
- inadvertency
- misprision
- heedlessness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- compliance
- discharge
- fulfillment
- fulfilment