error

A2 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /ˈɛɹəɹ/ UK /ˈɛɹə/ See IPA manual

Freq #4661

Meanings

1

noun
A mistake or something done wrong by accident.

There was a large error in the accounts.
2

noun
A message or fault produced by a computer when something goes wrong.

The website kept showing an error when I tried to log in.
3

verb
To stop working properly because of a fault, often showing an error message.

The web page took a long time to load and then errored out.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a mistake or something done... mistake blunder

More aberration bloomer blooper bonerboo-boobreakclangercock-uperrerroneityfault

Word family

Forms errors

Derived forms bioerrorenerror-freeerror-proneerror-pronenesserror-riddenerrorfreeerrorfulerroristerrorlesserrorouserrorproof

Related forms defect err errant erroneous erroneously falsemis-unerring

Appears in

Phrases (4)

See all

fundamental error
a mistake that affects the basic reasoning or foundation of something

Adjective + noun
syntax error
a mistake that breaks the grammatical rules of a programming language

Noun + noun
typographical error
a mistake introduced when text is typed or prepared for printing

Adjective + noun
possibility of error
the chance that a judgment or result may be mistaken

Fixed expression

Idioms (1)

See all

trial and error
trying different methods until you find one that works

Etymology

From Middle English errour, from Anglo-Norman errour, borrowed from Old French error, from Latin error (“wandering about”, noun), derived from the verb 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).

*h₁ers- Proto-Indo-European errour Middle English error Old French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# error

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈɛɹəɹ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɛɹə/
**Frequency rank:** 4661

## Meanings
1. A mistake or something done wrong by accident.
2. A message or fault produced by a computer when something goes wrong.
3. To stop working properly because of a fault, often showing an error message.

## Examples
- There was a large error in the accounts.
- The website kept showing an error when I tried to log in.
- The web page took a long time to load and then errored out.

## Synonyms
- aberration
- bloomer
- blooper
- blunder
- boner
- boo-boo
- break
- clanger
- cock-up
- err
- erroneity
- fault

## Derived Forms
- bioerror
- en
- error-free
- error-prone
- error-proneness
- error-ridden
- errorfree
- errorful
- errorist
- errorless
- errorous
- errorproof

## Related Forms
- defect
- err
- errant
- erroneous
- erroneously
- false
- mis-
- unerring

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₁ers-
- Root: errour
- Root: error

## Etymology
From Middle English errour, from Anglo-Norman errour, borrowed from Old French error, from Latin error (“wandering about”, noun), derived from the verb 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).

## AI Etymology
Error comes from Middle English errour, from Anglo-Norman errour, borrowed from Old French error, from Latin error (“wandering about”, noun), derived from the verb 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).

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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