err

verb

ˈer  ˈər 

erred; erring; errs

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make a mistake

erred in his calculations

erred on the side of caution

b

: to violate an accepted standard of conduct

2

archaic : stray

Did you know?

Is it human to err?

Many people are familiar with the word err from encountering it in the epigram “to err is human; to forgive, divine.” This phrase is found in Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Criticism, from 1711. Earlier expressions of the same sentiment exist, as in Thomas Jones’ 1678 book, Of the Heart, and its Right Soveraign, which contains the line “to err, is human, to recover, is Angelical; to persevere is Diabolical.”

Err is also often found in the phrase err on the side of caution, to suggest that being overly cautious is better than not being cautious enough.

Err stems from the Latin word errare, meaning “to stray, wander,” and it retained that meaning when it first entered English. We find the same Latin ancestor at the root of the words error, erratic, and erroneous.

Synonyms

• blunder
• boob [British]
• flub
• fluff
• foul up
• fumble
• goof (up)
• louse up
• mess (up)
• screw up
• slip up
• stumble
• trip

Examples of err in a Sentence

I may have erred in my calculations.

The court erred in refusing to allow bail.

Recent Examples on the Web

The appeals court ruled that Weinstein’s original trial erred by allowing three additional accusers to testify about their own assault allegations when they should not have been permitted. —Katcy Stephan, Variety, 22 Oct. 2024

Dodgers Photos: Dodgers, Yankees, Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge in the starriest World Series in decades Oct. 26, 2024 Shortstop Anthony Volpe erred next, spiking a throw to third on a ground ball from Will Smith to load the bases with no outs. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024

Twitter executives have defended their actions in 2020 as an attempt to avoid giving incentives for cyberattacks on a presidential campaign, though ex-CEO Jack Dorsey has said that, in hindsight, the company erred. —David Ingram, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024

This one errs on the repair end of the spectrum, utilizing vitamin E, shea butter, and botanical oils to treat brittle strands. —Iman Balagam, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French errer, from Latin errare to wander, err; akin to Old English ierre wandering, perverse, Goth airzeis deceived

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing err

• err on the side of
• err on the side of caution
• to err is human

Kids Definition

err

verb

ˈe(ə)r  ˈər 

1

: to make a mistake

erred in my calculations

2

: to do wrong : sin

Legal Definition

err

intransitive verb

ˈer, ˈər 

: to make an error

the court erred in denying the motion