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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.
Examples of err in a Sentence
Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
Loudermilk’s report argues that Cheney erred by being in touch with Hutchinson at all given that the aide initially worked with a lawyer paid through a Trump legal defense fund.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 26 Dec. 2024
With no clear division between a Level 3 and a Level 4 visit, physicians who have seen their reimbursement decline may err towards reporting higher intensity visits.
—Peter Ubel, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Part of that unpredictability is predicated on Sonne’s performance, which errs on the wild side.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for err
Cite this Entry
“Err.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/err. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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err
intransitive verb
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