Meaning & use

erring

verb·Academic

Making a mistake, or straying from what is considered correct, moral, or expected behavior.

See it in a sentence

The coach reminded the young players that erring occasionally is a natural part of learning.

When unsure of the rule, the referee said he preferred erring on the side of caution.

A note on using this word

Erring frequently appears in the set phrase "erring on the side of caution," meaning choosing the safer option when uncertain.

Words with a similar meaning

mistakenstraying

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

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