Omission: meaning, definitions and examples

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omission

 

[ əˈmɪʃ(ə)n ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in speech

The action of omitting or leaving out someone or something.

Synonyms

exclusion, neglect, oversight.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
omission

Used when something is left out or not included, often unintentionally.

  • There was an omission in the report that needs to be corrected.
  • The omission of his name from the list was an oversight.
exclusion

Used when someone or something is intentionally not included, often in a formal or systematic way.

  • The exclusion of certain candidates from the competition raised questions.
  • His exclusion from the team was due to disciplinary reasons.
neglect

Used when something is ignored or not given the necessary attention, often with a negative connotation.

  • The garden was in a state of neglect after weeks without care.
  • He neglected his duties, leading to several issues in the project.
oversight

Used when something is overlooked or missed, usually unintentionally, and often implies a mistake.

  • The oversight in the financial report was discovered late.
  • It was an oversight not to invite her to the meeting.

Examples of usage

  • He noticed the omission of his name from the list of candidates.
  • She made an omission in her presentation by forgetting to mention the key details.
Context #2 | Noun

in writing

A part of a text that has been left out or not included.

Synonyms

deletion, elision, exclusion.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
omission

Used when something is left out or not included, often implying neglect or an unintentional oversight.

  • The omission of his name from the list was surprising.
  • She regretted the omission of key details in her report.
elision

Primarily used in linguistic contexts to describe the omission of a sound or syllable when speaking.

  • In casual conversation, 'going to' often undergoes elision to become 'gonna'.
  • The poem employs elision to maintain its rhythm.
deletion

Refers to the act of removing something deliberately, particularly in digital or written contexts.

  • The deletion of files from the computer was necessary to free up space.
  • His comment was met with backlash, leading to the deletion of the post.
exclusion

Indicates the act of purposefully preventing someone or something from participating or being included.

  • The exclusion of women from the vote was a significant issue in history.
  • His exclusion from the meeting caused controversy among the team members.

Examples of usage

  • The omission of an important paragraph changed the meaning of the entire document.
  • The editor spotted several omissions in the final draft of the book.
Context #3 | Noun

in action

The act of not including or doing something.

Synonyms

disregard, neglect, oversight.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
omission

Use when something has been left out either by mistake or on purpose. It can imply a sense of error or exclusion.

  • Her omission from the guest list was a major oversight
  • The omission of relevant details made the report incomplete
neglect

Use when talking about failing to care for something or someone properly, often resulting in harm or deterioration. It has a negative connotation.

  • The plant died from neglect
  • The child's neglect by his parents shocked the community
disregard

Use to indicate a lack of attention or consideration for something, often willfully ignoring it.

  • His disregard for the rules led to his suspension
  • The company showed a blatant disregard for environmental regulations
oversight

Use to describe an unintentional mistake or something that was missed. It is often less severe and less intentional than omission.

  • The typo in the document was just an oversight
  • Due to an oversight, the package was sent to the wrong address

Examples of usage

  • The omission of crucial steps in the process led to the failure of the project.
  • His omission of safety checks resulted in the accident.

Translations

Translations of the word "omission" in other languages:

🇵🇹 omissão

🇮🇳 अवहेलना

🇩🇪 Auslassung

🇮🇩 pengabaian

🇺🇦 упущення

🇵🇱 opuszczenie

🇯🇵 省略

🇫🇷 omission

🇪🇸 omisión

🇹🇷 ihmal

🇰🇷 누락

🇸🇦 إغفال

🇨🇿 opomenutí

🇸🇰 opomenutie

🇨🇳 遗漏

🇸🇮 izpuščanje

🇮🇸 hunska

🇰🇿 қатерлі

🇬🇪 გამოტოვება

🇦🇿 xəta

🇲🇽 omisión

Etymology

The word 'omission' comes from the Latin word 'omissio', which means 'a letting go, neglect'. The term has been used in English since the late 14th century. Throughout history, 'omission' has been associated with the act of leaving something out or neglecting to include it. It is commonly used in various contexts such as speech, writing, and action.

See also: omit, omitted.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,378 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.