TechnologySeptember 6, 2026

overengineered

OH-ver-en-juh-NEERD

Definition

Designed or built with more complexity, features, or cost than is necessary for its practical function.

Etymology

The word combines the prefix 'over-', meaning 'excessive,' with 'engineered,' derived from the Latin 'ingenium,' meaning talent or natural capacity. It emerged in the 20th century to describe products that prioritize complex design over simplicity or utility.

In the news

The article uses the term to critique the Dyson CameraJet, suggesting that the toothbrush's excessive technological features make it an unnecessarily expensive and complicated gadget.

Dyson’s New AI Toothbrush Conducts Video Surveillance on the Inside of Your Mouth

Read the full article ↗

Futurism

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