To impose excessive or overly detailed specifications in a description, requirement, or set of guidelines, often leading to unnecessary complexity or restrictions. Overspecifying can hinder creativity, flexibility, and efficiency in problem-solving or product development, as it focuses too much on specifics rather than overall goals.
Overspecify meaning with examples
- In the software development meeting, the project manager warned against overspecifying the user interface design, emphasizing that a more flexible approach would encourage innovative features rather than restricting the developers' creativity.
- During the architecture review, the engineer noticed that the client had overspecified the materials and dimensions for the building, which could complicate the construction process and ultimately lead to higher costs.
- When creating a marketing campaign, the team realized that they had overspecified their target audience, which made it difficult to reach potential customers. A broader approach could attract a more diverse clientele.
- The teacher cautioned her students about overspecifying their research projects, as it might limit their exploration of interesting topics and reduce the overall quality of their work.