Skip to main content
Urban Dictionary Merch
Your favorite words on things you can wear, drink from, read, or give to a friend.
The Urban Dictionary Store sells gifts you’ll have to explain.
When you make a serious mistake but you don't want to admit that you fucked up, you say that "there was an oversight." Used in a professional setting as a futile attempt to make serious errors sound better.
"WHAT THE FUCK MAN WHY IS THERE BLOOD ALL OVER BOB?!! WHAT DID YOU DO?!!?"

"There was an oversight, alright? I didn't know the gun was loaded"
"YOU MOTHERFUCKER"
Oversight by HuniSenpai January 11, 2020

involuntary oversight

A major screwup for which nobody is willing to accept the blame. The error isn't important enought to the person who made the mistake to acknowledge; however, the victim of the error suffers greatly. A meaningless apology may be offered. A prime example of Doublespeak.
"We will add your pay raise beginning next week. The paperwork was mismanaged. We apologize for this involuntary oversight.

Critical Oversight 

Noun.

1. Completely disregarding or overlooking something crucial that results in a catastrophic end.
Dude Man 1: How much gas is in your car?
Dude Man 2: Not enough to get to the gas station.
Dude Man 1: How much was left when you got in your car?
Dude Man 2: Didn't check.
Dude Man 1: Critical oversight. Dumbass
Critical Oversight by J-kwelin July 16, 2023

citation oversight 

Citation Oversight is weasel wording for admission of plagiarism. It is a cowardly way of admitting plagiarism by professors in top-ranked universities who have purloined ideas from others, but a claim of 'citation oversight' as opposed to an admission of plagiarism protects the professors from being fired from their jobs. Note that this protection mechanism is a privilege which is available only to White Professors and Black professors who plagiarize will be promptly fired from their jobs.
Q: Dude, did you hear about the plagiarism charge against Prof. McD of the ivy league university who lifted ideas from a newspaper? A: Yeah, he was a White guy and so the university officials declared it a case of 'citation oversight' and let him off.
citation oversight by enviroscientist September 1, 2020

powell-oversight 

The opposite of "to pull a POWELL", which means to leak sensitive information, causing sever problems for Apple Coorporation! The ability to prevent one from "pulling a Powell".
Dude, you almost left that prototype smart phone on the counter, but my Powell-oversight snatched it off the counter before any Geeks got a look.
powell-oversight by P_008 July 29, 2010

Creative oversight 

Hey, Todd, I know you don’t want the creative oversight but don’t have any scenes in the sequel where The Joker acquires his iconic arsenal. That is hack shit. There is no reason he wouldn’t have his joke pistol with a flag that says “Bang.” There’s no reason he wouldn’t already have a crowbar. And include some of the chemistry. The Joker is a biochemical genius. He created psychopathic fish. You need to tie some things into the canon.
Hym “I know you don’t want the creative oversight but that’s the problem with the Disney Marvel movies. No creative oversight. Which is why they are trash.”
Creative oversight by Hym Iam October 23, 2022
More from Urban Dictionary

countrypolitan 

Term used to describe someone who is a mix of both rural (country) and urban (metropolitan) lifestyles/upbringings. He/she is typically equally comfortable in both settings and is able to seamlessly slip back and forth between the two, appreciating the characteristics of each.
That ol' gal of mine drives the 12 lane freeway during the week and a John Deere on the weekends. She likes opra and the Grand Ol' Opry. I love them countrypolitan women.
countrypolitan by MOChick November 7, 2006
Word of the Day on November 1, 2026

Witch Bath 

A bath consisting of a variety of slats, oils, soaps or any other added ingredients such as fruits, milks, herbs or any other spices for health or beautifying benifits.
She brought home alot of stuff and took it to the bathroom. She must be taking a witch bath.
Witch Bath by carnieboy30 October 26, 2020
Word of the Day on October 31, 2026

kinktober 

An excuse for people to write porn with different types of kinks throughout the month of October.

Smut Fanfiction
That chick doesn't write often but when she does, its for Kinktober.
kinktober by Kinkiest July 12, 2018
Word of the Day on October 30, 2026

proper lad 

a lad that is such a lad that he is a proper lad
person1:did you see bob
person2: ya he was a proper lad
Word of the Day on October 29, 2026
The number of years you are still sexually active
While our lifespan is the number of years we will live, our healthspan is the number of healthy years we will have and our sexspan is is the number of years we will continue to be healthy enough to continue having an active sex life.
sexspan by Dr Kat April 21, 2022
Word of the Day on October 28, 2026
Load more