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Meaning & use

error

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈerə/
US/ˈerər/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A mistake, especially one that produces an incorrect or unintended result.

    Grammar: Countable: one error, two errors. Often used in formal, technical, or legal writing.

    Patterns

    • make an error
    • an error in something
    • a error message
    • human error

    The report contained several errors in the data.

    She made an error when entering the password.

    The error was caused by a faulty sensor.

  2. nouncountable or uncountabletechnical

    A mistake in a calculation, program, or measurement that causes a wrong result.

    Grammar: Can be countable (an error) or uncountable (margin of error). Common in science, computing, and statistics.

    Patterns

    • margin of error
    • rounding error
    • error rate
    • trial and error

    The margin of error in the survey was three percent.

    A rounding error made the total slightly wrong.

    The software reported a syntax error.

  3. nouncountableformal

    A wrong belief or opinion about something.

    Grammar: Often used in phrases like 'in error' or 'the error of one's ways'.

    Patterns

    • in error
    • the error of your ways
    • be in error

    I was in error about the meeting time.

    He admitted the error of his ways and apologized.

Word forms

pluralerrors

Common combinations

make an error
Even experts make an error now and then.
human error
The accident was blamed on human error.
error message
An error message appeared on the screen.
margin of error
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus two points.
trial and error
We found the right setting by trial and error.

Synonyms and how they differ

mistake
Mistake is the everyday word; error is more formal and common in technical or official contexts.
fault
Fault often suggests blame or responsibility; error simply describes a wrong result.
flaw
Flaw is a weakness or imperfection in something, not necessarily a wrong action.

Opposites

accuracycorrectness

Word family

err verb
To make a mistake.
erroneous adjective
Containing a mistake; incorrect.
errorless adjective
Without any mistakes.

Commonly confused: error or era?

error vs era

Era is a period of time; error is a mistake. They sound similar but have different meanings.

Practice

The engineer found a small ___ in the calculation.

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