overcompartmentalization

noun

excessive compartmentalization

OriginEnglish compartmentalization ← Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? ← Middle French compartiment →
Scrabble 44
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Meanings

nounovercompartmentalization (uncountable)
  1. uncountableexcessive compartmentalization

    In short, although day-to-day working patterns were altered by the new WSEG/IDA relationship, many of the problems that might have been created by overcompartmentalization at the staff level were alleviated or avoided by pragmatic adjustments.

    1979, John Ponturo, “Analytical Support for the Joint Chiefs of Staff: The WSEG Experience, 1948-1976”, in INSTITUTE FOR DEFENSE ANALYSES - INTERNATIONAL AND SOCIAL STUDIES DIVISION
    1 more example

    Lowry and Carpenter (1985), commenting on the relationship of natural resources and regional planning, point out that by establishing jurisdictions roughly congruent to natural systems, regional planning and management can correct the imbalances and overcompartmentalization of prevailing sectoral interests and line ministries.

    1988, Richard Perritt, Harry Schwarz, “RIVER BASIN PLANNING FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT”, in The Africa Bureau - U.S. Agency for International Development, archived from the original on 08 Dec 2024

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*úp
  2. Proto-Indo-European*upér
  3. Proto-Germanic*uber
  4. Old Englishofer-
  5. Middle Englishover-
  6. Englishover-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
  8. Proto-Indo-European*ḱóm
  9. Proto-Italic*kom
  10. Proto-Italic*kom-
  11. Latincom-
  12. Proto-Indo-European*perh₃-
  13. Proto-Indo-European*pérh₃tis?
  14. Proto-Italic*partis
  15. Latinpars
  16. Latinpartiō
  17. Latinpartior
  18. Latincompartīrī
  19. Italiancompartire
  20. Italiancompartimento
  21. Middle Frenchcompartiment
  22. Englishcompartment
  23. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  24. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
  25. Englishcompartmental
  26. Englishcompartmentalize
  27. Englishcompartmentalization
  28. Englishovercompartmentalization

From over- + compartmentalization.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

overcompartmentalization. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overcompartmentalization

MLA

“overcompartmentalization.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overcompartmentalization. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “overcompartmentalization,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overcompartmentalization.

Source: overcompartmentalization on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.