What does overadjustment mean?
Overadjustment is the noun form of describing an excessive response to circumstances. It means adjusting a setting, plan, system, or behavior too much, often in response to a perceived problem or change. The word is especially useful when the adjustment itself creates new difficulties: a policy may be introduced to correct an imbalance, but its overadjustment can produce instability; a person may try so hard to avoid criticism that every situation becomes a source of anxiety. Overadjustment is related to overcorrection, though it is broader and can apply to any form of excessive adjustment. It is not usually used for a routine, minor change; its defining feature is that the adjustment is excessive, disproportionate, or counterproductive. The term occurs in formal and specialist writing more often than in everyday conversation.
nounAn excessive or excessive adjustment, especially the act of changing a setting, plan, or behavior too much in response to circumstances.
- The act of adjusting too much, or adjusting in an excessive or counterproductive way.
- A situation in which excessive adjustment of a system, process, or behavior causes instability or further problems.
"Repeated overadjustment made the system unstable instead of improving its performance."
"The governor's overadjustment to changing conditions caused the economy to swing unpredictably."
"Therapists discussed the patient's tendency toward overadjustment when faced with criticism."
Plural is grammatical but uncommon; singular use is much more frequent.
"The report identified several overadjustments in the financial model."
Overadjustment captures the hidden danger of making every correction in a desperate attempt to get things exactly right.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of overadjustment
The word is formed from the prefix over-, meaning “too much,” and adjustment, which comes through Middle English from French ajustement and ultimately Latin adjustare. The Latin verb was associated with the root just-, meaning “just” or “right,” also found in words such as justify and adjunct. The compound overadjustment developed in English as a descriptive term for adjustment that goes beyond what is suitable or helpful.
Related word forms
How overadjustment is actually used
This is a relatively uncommon, formal noun. It is most often used in technical, psychological, economic, or organizational contexts to describe a change that is excessive rather than merely noticeable.
Easily confused with overadjustment
An adjustment is a change made to suit a situation, whereas an overadjustment is an adjustment that is excessive or counterproductive.
Overcorrection usually describes a corrective response that goes too far, while overadjustment can also refer more generally to excessive adjustment of a setting, process, or behavior.