Crossword Genius

Berry lost by mistake (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

err

'mistake' is the definition.
(to err is to make a mistake or blunder)

'berry lost by' is the wordplay.
'lost' suggests deleting specific letters.
'berry' with 'by' removed is 'ERR'.

(Other definitions for err that I've seen before include "Blunder" , "'to... is human,to forgive divine'" , "Deviate" , "Stray from the straight and narrow" , "Be inaccurate" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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