Meanings
plural data poisonings
- countableuncountablemachine learning; computer security; machine learning; computer securityThe deliberate use of a training dataset with data designed to increase errors in the output of a machine learning model.
While data sanitization shows promise to defend against data poisoning, it is often impossible to validate every data source [14].
2019, Simon N. Foley, editor, Data and Applications Security and Privacy XXXIII […] , Springer, →ISBN, page 43 more examples
Similarly, the Tay chatbot suffered from data poisoning. To mitigate data poisoning, it is important not to let any one group contribute too much data to a model.
2022, Alfred Z. Spector, Peter Norvig, Chris Wiggins, Jeannette M. Wing, Data Science in Context: Foundations, Challenges, Opportunities, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 148Data poisoning is one type of adversarial attack—where a user or group of users submit false data to influence the model toward a particular or incorrect prediction.
2023, Katharine Jarmul, Practical Data Privacy, O'Reilly, →ISBNSome forms of data poisoning are undetectable. Attackers can insert adversarial noise into the training data, altering the training data in a way that is hidden to human observers.
2023, Paul Scharre, Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, W. W. Norton & Company, →ISBNSynonyms: poisoning attack
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe deliberate use of a training dataset with data designed to increase errors in the output of a machine learning model.
Cite this entry
data poisoning. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/data%20poisoning
“data poisoning.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/data%20poisoning. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “data poisoning,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/data%20poisoning.
Source: data poisoning on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.