error

Meaning

Noun

1. (uncountable) The state, quality, or condition of being wrong.
2. (countable) A mistake; an accidental wrong action or a false statement not made deliberately.
3. (countable, uncountable) Sin; transgression.
4. (countable) A failure to complete a task, usually involving a premature termination.
5. (countable) The difference between a measured or calculated value and a true one.
6. (countable) A play which is scored as having been made incorrectly.
7. (uncountable) One or more mistakes in a trial that could be grounds for review of the judgement.
8. (countable, uncountable) Any alteration in the DNA chemical structure occurring during DNA replication, recombination or repairing.
9. (countable, uncountable) An unintentional deviation from the inherent rules of a language variety made by a second language learner.

Verb

1. To function improperly due to an error, especially accompanied by error message.
2. To show or contain an error or fault.
3. (nonstandard) To err.

Synonyms

mistake

fault

blunder

aberration

wrong

failure

slip

flaw

sin

lapse

defect

delusion

wrongdoing

shortcoming

misunderstanding

inaccuracy

bad

👎

bungle

imperfection

bug

🐛

oversight

fallacy

disgrace

mismanagement

confusion

omission

incorrect

misplay

erroneous

err

gaffe

blame

faux pas

goof

misconception

discredit

mistaken

misprint

offence

misdeed

failing

exaggeration

blooper

erroneousness

bloomer

make a mistake

errancy

illusion

accident

misapprehension

Translations

erreur

errore

error

Fehler

erro

faute

Irrtum

fout

error

sbaglio

λάθος

vergissing

equivocación

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɛɹ.ə(ɹ)/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: errour

Cognate with Gothic: 𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌶𐌴𐌹

Cognate with Gothic: 𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌶𐌾𐌰𐌽

In summary

From Middle English errour, from Anglo-Norman errour, borrowed from Old French error, from Latin error (“wandering about”), infinitive of errō (“to wander, to err”). Cognate with Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌶𐌴𐌹 (airzei, “error”), Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌶𐌾𐌰𐌽 (airzjan, “to lead astray”). More at err. By surface analysis, err + -or (suffix forming nouns of quality, state, or condition).