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September 06, 2016 Word of the Day

error /ˈerɚ/ noun
error
/ˈerɚ/
noun

plural errors

An error in addition
An error in addition
Definition of ERROR

1 : something that is not correct : a wrong action or statement : MISTAKE

[count]

  • I made an error in my calculations.

  • They uncovered several errors in his report to the committee.

  • The paper contains numerous spelling errors.

[noncount]

  • horrifying cases of hospital error

  • The accident was caused by human error. [=by a mistake made by a person]

— see also trial and error at TRIAL

2 [count] : a mistake made by a person who is playing a sport (such as baseball or tennis)

  • The shortstop was charged with an error.

in error

1 : not correct

  • I believe your conclusion is in error. [=incorrect, mistaken]

  • The judge was in error when she allowed the evidence to be admitted.

2 : in a way that is not correct

  • My earlier statement was made in error. [=my earlier statement was incorrect]

  • The evidence was admitted in error. [=incorrectly, mistakenly]

margin of/for error

— see MARGIN

the error of your ways

◊ To see, recognize, acknowledge, etc., the error of your ways is to admit that you have been doing something wrong or behaving badly and to stop doing it.

  • Congress recognized the error of its ways and repealed the law.

  • He publicly acknowledged the error of his ways and asked for forgiveness.

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