Dictionary

overengineer en · VERB

Etymology

From over- + engineer.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To render something more complicated than necessary; often implying that the complexity was added intentionally.
   • Fortunately, the Victorians over-engineered their structures, as they didn't have the advantages we have now of a modern understanding of structural dynamics. 2023 June 28, Sir Michael Holden, “Comment: 'There will be more Nunehams'”, in RAIL, number 986, page 3:
   • While PlayStation 3 surpasses both Wii and Xbox 360 in performance and graphics, the critics say it suffers from the same problem as many other Sony products: it is overengineered, scaring away average shoppers. 2007 January 31, Martin Fackler, “Hobbled by Disappointing Sales and a Loss at the Game Unit, Sony's Profit Drops 5%”, in New York Times:

Forms

Relateds

overdesign