error Hear it!

error definition

er·ror (er′ər)

noun

  1. the state of believing what is untrue, incorrect, or wrong
  2. a wrong belief; incorrect opinion
  3. something incorrectly done through ignorance or carelessness; mistake
  4. a departure from the accepted moral code; transgression; wrongdoing; sin
    1. the difference between a computed or estimated result and the actual value, as in mathematics
    2. the amount by which something deviates from what is required
  6. ☆ Baseball a misplay in fielding or throwing a ball which allows a runner to reach base or to advance to the next base: neither a wild pitch nor a passed ball is an error
  7. Law a mistake in judgment or procedure of a court of record, usually prejudicial to one of the parties
  8. Philately a flaw in a stamp or stamps from a defect in a printing plate, a difference in color, etc.

Etymology: ME & OFr errour < L error < errare: see err

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms error idiom

law error definition - legal

medical error definition - medical

telecom error definition - telecom

error Synonyms

error

n.

  1. A specific miscalculation

    mistake, blunder, slip, fault, faux pas, gaffe, oversight, inaccuracy, goof, misjudgment, miscalculation, deviation, wrong, lapse, miss, failure, mismanagement, misdoing, omission, slight, misprint, typographical error, typo*, slip of the tongue, misusage*, solecism*, malapropism*, mispronunciation*, misstep*, misunderstanding*, misbelief*, absurdity*, misreport*, untruth*, trip*, stumble*, bungle*, botch*, flaw*, erratum*, corrigendum*, howler*, glitch*, boner*, boo-boo*, blooper*, slip-up*, muff*, bad job*, flub*, clinker*, bobble*, miscue*, fluff*, screw-up*, foul-up*, snafu*. *

  2. General misconception

    falsity, delusion, misunderstanding, erroneousness; see fallacy 1, misunderstanding 1.

  3. A moral offense

    transgression, wrongdoing, sin; see sin.

error implies deviation from truth, accuracy, correctness or right and is the broadest term in this comparison an error in judgment, in computation, etc.; mistake suggests an error resulting from carelessness, inattention, misunderstanding, etc. and does not in itself carry a strong implication of criticism a mistake in reading a blueprint; blunder carries a suggestion of more severe criticism and implies such causes as stupidity, clumsiness, or inefficiency a tactical blunder cost them the war; a slip is a mistake, usually slight, made inadvertently in speaking or writing; a faux pas is a social blunder or error in etiquette that causes embarrassment; boner and booboo, slang terms, are applied to a silly or ridiculous blunder


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

error Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • metabolism: My research includes clinical mass spectrometry and inborn errors of metabolism.

Converse of object

  • correct: Osprey, perhaps you'll correct any errors please!

Adjective modifier

Modifies a noun

  • message: All error messages will contain details about the error.

Noun used with modifier

  • syntax: Some are illegal but do not fall under the heading of syntax errors.
error usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

error quotes

He which converteththesinner fromthe errorof his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

-Bible (NewTestament)

   It is a general popular error to imagine the loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for its welfare.

-Burke, Edmund

The commonest error in politics is sticking to the carcasses of old policies.

-of Salisbury

error quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"error." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/error>

APA Style

error. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/error

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment