Meanings
nounbufferbloat (usually uncountable, plural bufferbloats)
plural bufferbloats
- uncountableusuallycomputingExcessive buffering of packets which may cause delays (latency) or jitter (latency variation) in packet-switched networks, particularly during high load.
The issue about bufferbloat was first exposed by Dave P. Reed in [12]. He found large RTTs along the routes but without packet loss.
2022, Kewei Sha, Aaron Striegel, Min Song, editors, Advances in Computer Communications and Networks From Green, Mobile, Pervasive Networking to Big Data Computing, CRC Press, →ISBN, page 70 - uncountableusuallycomputingDelay caused by such excessive buffering.
Origin
From buffer + bloat, first attested in 2010.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish liiallinen puskurointi, puskurointiviive
- liiallinen puskurointiexcessive buffering
- puskurointiviivedelay caused by excessive buffering
- bufferbloatdelay caused by excessive buffering
Cite this entry
APA
bufferbloat. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bufferbloat
MLA
“bufferbloat.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bufferbloat. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bufferbloat,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bufferbloat.
Source: bufferbloat on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.