Err

/ɜːr/

Meaning & Definition

verb

to make a mistake or to be incorrect

He did not err in his judgment about the situation.

to sin or to do wrong

The ancient texts remind us that to err is human.

to deviate from the truth or accuracy

In the report, she may have erred in her calculations.

From Latin 'errare', meaning 'to wander or make a mistake'.

to err is human:

It is natural for people to make mistakes.

erring on the side of caution:

To be overly cautious, often leading to mistakes.

To mess up

I totally erred on that exam.

Screwing up

I really erred when I forgot her birthday.