diff --git a/compliance_test.go b/compliance_test.go
index 54cc235..419a9d0 100644
--- a/compliance_test.go
+++ b/compliance_test.go
@@ -98,6 +98,11 @@ func runSyntaxTestCase(assert *assert.Assertions, given interface{}, testcase Te
 	// an error when we try to evaluate the expression.
 	_, err := Search(testcase.Expression, given)
 	assert.NotNil(err, fmt.Sprintf("Expression: %s", testcase.Expression))
+	if er, ok := err.(SyntaxError); !ok {
+		assert.Fail("unexpected error: %T, %v: %s", err, err, fmt.Sprintf("Expression: %s", testcase.Expression))
+	} else {
+		assert.Equal(testcase.Error, er.Type(), fmt.Sprintf("Expression: %s", testcase.Expression))
+	}
 }
 
 func runTestCase(assert *assert.Assertions, given interface{}, testcase TestCase, filename string) {
diff --git a/functions.go b/functions.go
index e9770e8..eb5284a 100644
--- a/functions.go
+++ b/functions.go
@@ -328,7 +328,10 @@ func (e *functionEntry) resolveArgs(arguments []interface{}) ([]interface{}, err
 	}
 	if !e.arguments[len(e.arguments)-1].variadic {
 		if len(e.arguments) != len(arguments) {
-			return nil, errors.New("incorrect number of args")
+			return nil, SyntaxError{
+				typ: ErrInvalidArity,
+				msg: "incorrect number of args",
+			}
 		}
 		for i, spec := range e.arguments {
 			userArg := arguments[i]
@@ -340,7 +343,10 @@ func (e *functionEntry) resolveArgs(arguments []interface{}) ([]interface{}, err
 		return arguments, nil
 	}
 	if len(arguments) < len(e.arguments) {
-		return nil, errors.New("invalid arity")
+		return nil, SyntaxError{
+			typ: ErrInvalidArity,
+			msg: fmt.Sprintf("not enough arguments for function %s", e.name),
+		}
 	}
 	return arguments, nil
 }
@@ -380,13 +386,19 @@ func (a *argSpec) typeCheck(arg interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	return fmt.Errorf("Invalid type for: %v, expected: %#v", arg, a.types)
+	return SyntaxError{
+		typ: ErrInvalidType,
+		msg: fmt.Sprintf("Invalid type for: %v, expected: %#v", arg, a.types),
+	}
 }
 
 func (f *functionCaller) CallFunction(name string, arguments []interface{}, intr *treeInterpreter) (interface{}, error) {
 	entry, ok := f.functionTable[name]
 	if !ok {
-		return nil, errors.New("unknown function: " + name)
+		return nil, SyntaxError{
+			typ: ErrUnknownFunction,
+			msg: "unknown function: " + name,
+		}
 	}
 	resolvedArgs, err := entry.resolveArgs(arguments)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -548,7 +560,10 @@ func jpfMaxBy(arguments []interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
 			}
 			current, ok := result.(float64)
 			if !ok {
-				return nil, errors.New("invalid type, must be number")
+				return nil, SyntaxError{
+					typ: ErrInvalidType,
+					msg: "invalid type, must be number",
+				}
 			}
 			if current > bestVal {
 				bestVal = current
@@ -566,7 +581,10 @@ func jpfMaxBy(arguments []interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
 			}
 			current, ok := result.(string)
 			if !ok {
-				return nil, errors.New("invalid type, must be string")
+				return nil, SyntaxError{
+					typ: ErrInvalidType,
+					msg: "invalid type, must be string",
+				}
 			}
 			if current > bestVal {
 				bestVal = current
@@ -575,7 +593,10 @@ func jpfMaxBy(arguments []interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
 		}
 		return bestItem, nil
 	default:
-		return nil, errors.New("invalid type, must be number of string")
+		return nil, SyntaxError{
+			typ: ErrInvalidType,
+			msg: "invalid type, must be number of string",
+		}
 	}
 }
 func jpfSum(arguments []interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
@@ -643,7 +664,10 @@ func jpfMinBy(arguments []interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
 			}
 			current, ok := result.(float64)
 			if !ok {
-				return nil, errors.New("invalid type, must be number")
+				return nil, SyntaxError{
+					typ: ErrInvalidType,
+					msg: "invalid type, must be number",
+				}
 			}
 			if current < bestVal {
 				bestVal = current
@@ -661,7 +685,10 @@ func jpfMinBy(arguments []interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
 			}
 			current, ok := result.(string)
 			if !ok {
-				return nil, errors.New("invalid type, must be string")
+				return nil, SyntaxError{
+					typ: ErrInvalidType,
+					msg: "invalid type, must be string",
+				}
 			}
 			if current < bestVal {
 				bestVal = current
@@ -670,7 +697,10 @@ func jpfMinBy(arguments []interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
 		}
 		return bestItem, nil
 	} else {
-		return nil, errors.New("invalid type, must be number of string")
+		return nil, SyntaxError{
+			typ: ErrInvalidType,
+			msg: "invalid type, must be number of string",
+		}
 	}
 }
 func jpfType(arguments []interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
@@ -749,18 +779,27 @@ func jpfSortBy(arguments []interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
 		sortable := &byExprFloat{intr, node, arr, false}
 		sort.Stable(sortable)
 		if sortable.hasError {
-			return nil, errors.New("error in sort_by comparison")
+			return nil, SyntaxError{
+				typ: ErrInvalidType,
+				msg: "error in sort_by comparison",
+			}
 		}
 		return arr, nil
 	} else if _, ok := start.(string); ok {
 		sortable := &byExprString{intr, node, arr, false}
 		sort.Stable(sortable)
 		if sortable.hasError {
-			return nil, errors.New("error in sort_by comparison")
+			return nil, SyntaxError{
+				typ: ErrInvalidType,
+				msg: "error in sort_by comparison",
+			}
 		}
 		return arr, nil
 	} else {
-		return nil, errors.New("invalid type, must be number of string")
+		return nil, SyntaxError{
+			typ: ErrInvalidType,
+			msg: "invalid type, must be number of string",
+		}
 	}
 }
 func jpfJoin(arguments []interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
diff --git a/lexer.go b/lexer.go
index 817900c..f369d69 100644
--- a/lexer.go
+++ b/lexer.go
@@ -28,13 +28,27 @@ type Lexer struct {
 	buf        bytes.Buffer // Internal buffer used for building up values.
 }
 
+const (
+	ErrSyntax          string = "syntax"
+	ErrInvalidArity    string = "invalid-arity"
+	ErrInvalidType     string = "invalid-type"
+	ErrInvalidValue    string = "invalid-value"
+	ErrUnknownFunction string = "unknown-function"
+)
+
 // SyntaxError is the main error used whenever a lexing or parsing error occurs.
 type SyntaxError struct {
+	typ        string // Error type as defined in the JMESpath specification
 	msg        string // Error message displayed to user
 	Expression string // Expression that generated a SyntaxError
 	Offset     int    // The location in the string where the error occurred
 }
 
+// Type returns the type of error, as defined in the JMESpath specification.
+func (e SyntaxError) Type() string {
+	return e.typ
+}
+
 func (e SyntaxError) Error() string {
 	// In the future, it would be good to underline the specific
 	// location where the error occurred.
@@ -208,7 +222,7 @@ loop:
 		} else if _, ok := whiteSpace[r]; ok {
 			// Ignore whitespace
 		} else {
-			return tokens, lexer.syntaxError(fmt.Sprintf("Unknown char: %s", strconv.QuoteRuneToASCII(r)))
+			return tokens, lexer.syntaxError(ErrSyntax, fmt.Sprintf("Unknown char: %s", strconv.QuoteRuneToASCII(r)))
 		}
 	}
 	tokens = append(tokens, token{tEOF, "", len(lexer.expression), 0})
@@ -233,6 +247,7 @@ func (lexer *Lexer) consumeUntil(end rune) (string, error) {
 		// Then we hit an EOF so we never reached the closing
 		// delimiter.
 		return "", SyntaxError{
+			typ:        ErrSyntax,
 			msg:        "Unclosed delimiter: " + string(end),
 			Expression: lexer.expression,
 			Offset:     len(lexer.expression),
@@ -274,6 +289,7 @@ func (lexer *Lexer) consumeRawStringLiteral() (token, error) {
 		// Then we hit an EOF so we never reached the closing
 		// delimiter.
 		return token{}, SyntaxError{
+			typ:        ErrSyntax,
 			msg:        "Unclosed delimiter: '",
 			Expression: lexer.expression,
 			Offset:     len(lexer.expression),
@@ -293,8 +309,9 @@ func (lexer *Lexer) consumeRawStringLiteral() (token, error) {
 	}, nil
 }
 
-func (lexer *Lexer) syntaxError(msg string) SyntaxError {
+func (lexer *Lexer) syntaxError(typ string, msg string) SyntaxError {
 	return SyntaxError{
+		typ:        typ,
 		msg:        msg,
 		Expression: lexer.expression,
 		Offset:     lexer.currentPos - 1,
diff --git a/parser.go b/parser.go
index 4abc303..3a1c265 100644
--- a/parser.go
+++ b/parser.go
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ func (p *Parser) Parse(expression string) (ASTNode, error) {
 		return ASTNode{}, err
 	}
 	if p.current() != tEOF {
-		return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxError(fmt.Sprintf(
+		return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxError(ErrSyntax, fmt.Sprintf(
 			"Unexpected token at the end of the expression: %s", p.current()))
 	}
 	return parsed, nil
@@ -195,8 +195,8 @@ func (p *Parser) parseSliceExpression() (ASTNode, error) {
 			parts[index] = &parsedInt
 			p.advance()
 		} else {
-			return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxError(
-				"Expected tColon or tNumber" + ", received: " + p.current().String())
+			return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxError(ErrSyntax,
+				"Expected tColon or tNumber"+", received: "+p.current().String())
 		}
 		current = p.current()
 	}
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ func (p *Parser) match(tokenType tokType) error {
 		p.advance()
 		return nil
 	}
-	return p.syntaxError("Expected " + tokenType.String() + ", received: " + p.current().String())
+	return p.syntaxError(ErrSyntax, "Expected "+tokenType.String()+", received: "+p.current().String())
 }
 
 func (p *Parser) led(tokenType tokType, node ASTNode) (ASTNode, error) {
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ func (p *Parser) led(tokenType tokType, node ASTNode) (ASTNode, error) {
 			children: []ASTNode{node, right},
 		}, nil
 	}
-	return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxError("Unexpected token: " + tokenType.String())
+	return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxError(ErrSyntax, "Unexpected token: "+tokenType.String())
 }
 
 func (p *Parser) nud(token token) (ASTNode, error) {
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ func (p *Parser) nud(token token) (ASTNode, error) {
 	case tQuotedIdentifier:
 		node := ASTNode{nodeType: ASTField, value: token.value}
 		if p.current() == tLparen {
-			return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxErrorToken("Can't have quoted identifier as function name.", token)
+			return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxErrorToken(ErrSyntax, "Can't have quoted identifier as function name.", token)
 		}
 		return node, nil
 	case tStar:
@@ -407,10 +407,10 @@ func (p *Parser) nud(token token) (ASTNode, error) {
 		}
 		return expression, nil
 	case tEOF:
-		return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxErrorToken("Incomplete expression", token)
+		return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxErrorToken(ErrSyntax, "Incomplete expression", token)
 	}
 
-	return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxErrorToken("Invalid token: "+token.tokenType.String(), token)
+	return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxErrorToken(ErrSyntax, "Invalid token: "+token.tokenType.String(), token)
 }
 
 func (p *Parser) parseMultiSelectList() (ASTNode, error) {
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ func (p *Parser) parseMultiSelectHash() (ASTNode, error) {
 		keyToken := p.lookaheadToken(0)
 		if err := p.match(tUnquotedIdentifier); err != nil {
 			if err := p.match(tQuotedIdentifier); err != nil {
-				return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxError("Expected tQuotedIdentifier or tUnquotedIdentifier")
+				return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxError(ErrSyntax, "Expected tQuotedIdentifier or tUnquotedIdentifier")
 			}
 		}
 		keyName := keyToken.value
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ func (p *Parser) parseDotRHS(bindingPower int) (ASTNode, error) {
 		}
 		return p.parseMultiSelectHash()
 	}
-	return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxError("Expected identifier, lbracket, or lbrace")
+	return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxError(ErrSyntax, "Expected identifier, lbracket, or lbrace")
 }
 
 func (p *Parser) parseProjectionRHS(bindingPower int) (ASTNode, error) {
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ func (p *Parser) parseProjectionRHS(bindingPower int) (ASTNode, error) {
 		}
 		return p.parseDotRHS(bindingPower)
 	} else {
-		return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxError("Error")
+		return ASTNode{}, p.syntaxError(ErrSyntax, "Error")
 	}
 }
 
@@ -583,8 +583,9 @@ func tokensOneOf(elements []tokType, token tokType) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (p *Parser) syntaxError(msg string) SyntaxError {
+func (p *Parser) syntaxError(typ string, msg string) SyntaxError {
 	return SyntaxError{
+		typ:        typ,
 		msg:        msg,
 		Expression: p.expression,
 		Offset:     p.lookaheadToken(0).position,
@@ -594,8 +595,9 @@ func (p *Parser) syntaxError(msg string) SyntaxError {
 // Create a SyntaxError based on the provided token.
 // This differs from syntaxError() which creates a SyntaxError
 // based on the current lookahead token.
-func (p *Parser) syntaxErrorToken(msg string, t token) SyntaxError {
+func (p *Parser) syntaxErrorToken(typ string, msg string, t token) SyntaxError {
 	return SyntaxError{
+		typ:        typ,
 		msg:        msg,
 		Expression: p.expression,
 		Offset:     t.position,
diff --git a/parser_test.go b/parser_test.go
index 4c920fe..e8bb676 100644
--- a/parser_test.go
+++ b/parser_test.go
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ var parsingErrorTests = []struct {
 	expression string
 	msg        string
 }{
-	{"foo.", "Incopmlete expression"},
-	{"[foo", "Incopmlete expression"},
+	{"foo.", "Incomplete expression"},
+	{"[foo", "Incomplete expression"},
 	{"]", "Invalid"},
 	{")", "Invalid"},
 	{"}", "Invalid"},
diff --git a/util.go b/util.go
index ddc1b7d..0ccd167 100644
--- a/util.go
+++ b/util.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package jmespath
 
 import (
-	"errors"
 	"reflect"
 )
 
@@ -84,7 +83,10 @@ func computeSliceParams(length int, parts []sliceParam) ([]int, error) {
 	if !parts[2].Specified {
 		step = 1
 	} else if parts[2].N == 0 {
-		return nil, errors.New("Invalid slice, step cannot be 0")
+		return nil, SyntaxError{
+			typ: ErrInvalidValue,
+			msg: "Invalid slice, step cannot be 0",
+		}
 	} else {
 		step = parts[2].N
 	}