Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense errs, present participle erring, past tense, past participle erred
1. verb
If you err, you make a mistake.
[formal, old-fashioned]
It criticises the main contractor for seriously erring in its original estimates. [VERB + in]
If you make a threat be sure to carry it out if he errs again. [VERB]
Synonyms: sin, fall, offend, lapse More Synonyms of err
2.
See to err is human
3.
See to err on the side of something
More Synonyms of err
err in British English
(ɜː)
verb(intransitive)
1.
to make a mistake; be incorrect
2.
to stray from the right course or accepted standards; sin
3.
to act with bias, esp favourable bias
to err on the side of justice
Word origin
C14: erren to wander, stray, from Old French errer, from Latin errāre
err in American English
(ɜr; ɛr)
verb intransitive
1.
to be wrong or mistaken; fall into error
2.
to deviate from the established moral code; do wrong
3. Obsolete
to go astray; wander
Word origin
ME erren < OFr errer < L errare, to wander, go astray, err < IE *eras- > race1, Ger irren, to err
Examples of 'err' in a sentence
err
My investment trust picks err on the side of caution.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Inevitably, banks and solicitors will err on the side of caution and decline to proceed with transactions.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So should we err that character may abound?
Christianity Today (2000)
Our approach has to be right and we may have to err on the side of caution.
The Sun (2015)
We have erred and strayed like lost sheep.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Officials erred on the side of caution.
Patrick Bishop FIGHTER BOYS: Saving Britain 1940 (2003)
The costs judge had erred in finding that the case had proceeded to trial.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Is she claiming that the judge erred in law?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is much worse to err on the side of obscurity than on the side of giving too much information.
Porush, David A Short Guide to Writing About Science (1995)
The judge erred in that respect.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
If there is any doubt, we should err on the side of caution.
The Sun (2006)
The judge erred in applying the ten-year period.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But in general they err on the side of caution, shutting themselves away from the troubled world.
John Garth TOLKIEN AND THE GREAT WAR: The Threshold of Middle-earth (2003)
If they err on one side they face empty places and the loss of 9,000 in fees for each.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The points which should then have been made could not be advanced on a section 36 reference because the judge had not erred.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But I err on the side of caution.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Where there was the slightest doubt - as there usually is - the referees erred on the side of caution.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The feeling within Old Trafford since is that they may have erred by not following up their interest with a firm bid.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
By the way, the government in Britain appears to err on the side of caution when it comes to recommending minimum daily intake of vitamins.
Hunter, Carol The Vitamin Fact Finder (1987)
The judge had erred in holding that the tenant's mental impairment did not have a substantial adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But they are usually slightly different; I tended to err on the side of scepticism at the naturally enthusiastic claims of aircraft shot down.
Admiral Sandy Woodward, With Patrick Robinson ONE HUNDRED DAYS (2003)
Quotations
To err is human, to forgive divineAlexander PopeAn Essay on Criticism
In other languages
err
British English: err VERB
If you err, you make a mistake.
It criticizes the main contractor for seriously erring in its original estimates.
American English: err
Brazilian Portuguese: errar
Chinese: 犯错
European Spanish: errar
French: se tromper
German: sich irren
Italian: errare
Japanese: 誤る
Korean: 실수하다
European Portuguese: errar
Latin American Spanish: errar
1 (verb)
Definition
to make a mistake
The contractors seriously erred in their original estimates.
Synonyms
make a mistake
I thought I had made a mistake, so I redid it.
mistake
No one should mistake how serious this issue is.
go wrong
I think I've gone wrong somewhere in my calculations.
blunder
No doubt I had blundered again.
slip up (informal)
You will see exactly where you are slipping up.
misjudge
be incorrect
be inaccurate
miscalculate
The government seems to have miscalculated and bills are higher.
go astray
be in error
put your foot in it (informal)
misapprehend
blot your copybook (informal)
drop a brick or clanger (informal)
2 (verb)
Definition
to sin
If he errs again there will be serious consequences.
Synonyms
sin
They charged him with sinning against God and man.
fall
offend
alleged criminals who offend while on bail
lapse
trespass
Forgive those who trespass against us.
do wrong
deviate
misbehave
go astray
transgress
We should be confident that justice is done to those who transgress.
be out of order
blot your copybook (informal)
Quotation
To err is human, to forgive divine [Alexander Pope – An Essay on Criticism]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blunder
Definition
to make stupid or clumsy mistakes
No doubt I had blundered again.
Synonyms
make a mistake,
blow it (slang),
err,
slip up (informal),
cock up (British, slang),
fuck up (offensive, taboo, slang),
miscalculate,
foul up,
drop a clanger (informal),
put your foot in it (informal),
drop a brick (British, informal),
screw up (informal)
in the sense of fall
Definition
to give in to temptation or sin
Synonyms
lapse,
sin,
offend,
err,
trespass,
go astray,
transgress,
backslide,
yield to temptation
in the sense of go wrong
Definition
to make a mistake
I think I've gone wrong somewhere in my calculations.