cumulativemistake
nounUK /ˈkjuːmjələtɪv mɪˈsteɪk/
US /ˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪv mɪˈsteɪk/
A cumulative mistake is a mistake that adds up over time because you keep making small ones.
The bridge collapsed due to a cumulative mistake in the design that went unnoticed for years.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. An error whose effects grow larger as more small errors are added together.
Small rounding errors became a cumulative mistake that ruined the final calculation.
3. A mistake that results from many small decisions rather than one big wrong choice.
The company's failure was a cumulative mistake of poor hiring and weak planning.
4. A repeated error that builds up and becomes serious over time.
Ignoring safety checks was a cumulative mistake that eventually caused an accident.