err

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɜr/ UK /ɜː/ See IPA manual

Homophones

er /ɜr/

Meanings

1

verb
to make a mistake; to be wrong

It is wiser to err on the side of caution.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to make a mistake; to be wrong blunder stumble slip misjudge mistake stray

Opposites

succeed

Word family

Derived forms erratumerrancy

Related forms error errant erratic erroneous aberrant

Appears in

Idioms (1)

See all

err on the side of
choose the safer course when uncertainty makes either option imperfect

Proverbs (1)

See all

To err is human

Simplified etymology

Err entered English in the Middle English period from Latin errare, which meant both “to stray or wander” and “to make a mistake.” The idea of leaving the correct course remains visible in related words such as erratic.

Etymology

From Old French errer, from Latin errare 'to wander, stray, go astray', from Proto-Indo-European *ers- 'to be in motion, wander'.

errer Old French errare Latin *ers- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# err

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɜr/
**IPA (UK):** /ɜː/

## Meanings
1. to make a mistake; to be wrong

## Examples
- It is wiser to err on the side of caution.

## Synonyms
- blunder
- stumble
- slip
- misjudge
- mistake
- stray

## Antonyms
- succeed

## Derived Forms
- erratum
- errancy

## Related Forms
- error
- errant
- erratic
- erroneous
- aberrant

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: errer
- Root: errare
- Root: *ers-

## Etymology
From Old French errer, from Latin errare 'to wander, stray, go astray', from Proto-Indo-European *ers- 'to be in motion, wander'.

## AI Etymology
Err is from Old French errer, from Latin errare 'to wander, stray, go astray', from Proto-Indo-European *ers- 'to be in motion, wander'. Important recorded forms include errer (Old French), errare (Latin), and *ers- (Proto-Indo-European). The current sense covers to make a mistake; to be wrong. The wider family includes derived forms such as erratum and errancy and related words such as error, errant, erratic, erroneous, and aberrant.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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err