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# human error

phrase (noun phrase, uncountable: human error; also a human error)

«human error» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, official) a mistake made by a person, not by a machine, said in a way that avoids naming who did it.
2. (literal) any mistake that people make, as opposed to mistakes of machines or nature.

### In the lessons

Companies, airlines, banks and governments say it after an accident or failure to explain without blaming anyone by name; it can hide carelessness. In science and maths it is also a plain, neutral term. Register: official, news, reports; all regions.

### Examples

- The crash was caused by human error, not by a fault in the train.
- News: The bank says the wrong payments were due to human error.
- Our science results were off because of human error in measuring.
- The airline blamed human error for the lost bags.
- Chat: «human error» = someone pressed the wrong button
- Teacher: Check your sums twice to cut down on human error.
- The report found that human error, not the weather, started the fire.
- Officials said a human error sent the warning text to the whole city.

### Note

It means a person made a mistake, but it hides which person; ask «whose error?». It can sound like an excuse. In maths and science experiments it is a normal word for mistakes in measuring or copying. Plain words: someone made a mistake.