err

UK: /ˈɜː^r/ US: /ɝ, ɛr/ ,(ûr, er)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

err /ɜr, ɛr/   v. [no object]

1. to be mistaken or incorrect;
   make an error:
   Banks rarely err in computing your balance.

Idioms

2. to err on the side of, [~ + object] to act or behave in a certain way, and not its opposite:
   It is better to err on the side of punctuality (= It is better to be early than late).

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

err  (ûr, er), v.i. 

1. to go astray in thought or belief;
   be mistaken;
   be incorrect.
2. to go astray morally;
   sin:
   To err is human.
3. [Archaic.] to deviate from the true course, aim, or purpose.

• Latin errāre; akin to Gothic airzjan, Old High German irrôn, German irren
• Old French errer
• Middle English erren 1275–1325

err′a•bil′i•ty, n. 
err′a•ble, adj. 
Synonyms

• 2. transgress, lapse.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

err / ɜː/ verb (intransitive)

1. to make a mistake; be incorrect
2. to stray from the right course or accepted standards; sin
3. to act with bias, esp favourable bias: to err on the side of justice

Etymology: 14th Century: erren to wander, stray, from Old French errer, from Latin errāre