/ ˈerə(r); NAmE / noun
[ C , U ] error in sth / in doing sth a mistake, especially one that causes problems or affects the result of sth :
No payments were made last week because of a computer error.
There are too many errors in your work.
I think you have made an error in calculating the total.
A simple error of judgement meant that there was not enough food to go around.
a grave error (= a very serious mistake)
a glaring error (= a mistake that is very obvious)
The delay was due to human error (= a mistake made by a person rather than by a machine) .
The computer system was switched off in error (= by mistake) .
There is no room for error in this job.
—see also margin of error ➡ note at mistake
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IDIOMS
- see, realize, etc. the error of your ways
—more at trial noun
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : via Old French from Latin error , from errare to stray, err.