Humphrey's law

noun

The phenomenon where focusing on details of a task, which are normally done without thought, makes the task difficult.

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Meanings

nounHumphrey's law (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe phenomenon where focusing on details of a task, which are normally done without thought, makes the task difficult.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
centipede's dilemma
Cite this entry
APA

Humphrey's law. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Humphrey's%20law

MLA

“Humphrey's law.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Humphrey's%20law. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Humphrey's law,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Humphrey's%20law.

Source: Humphrey's law on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.