Meanings
nounoverillumination (uncountable)
alternative over-illumination
- uncountableExcess light supplied beyond the amount required for a given task.
- uncountableWasted light through illumination of an unoccupied space, creating energy wastage.
- uncountableExcessive or annoying light producing glare, annoyance and adverse health effects.
The building's architect failed to account for natural light availability and specified more lighting fixtures than needed, resulting in over-illumination and leading to increased headache incidence for some building occupants.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*úp
- Proto-Indo-European*upér
- Proto-Germanic*uber
- Old Englishofer-
- Middle Englishover-
- Englishover-
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁én
- Proto-Italic*en
- Proto-Italic*en-
- Latinin-
- Proto-Indo-European*lewk-
- Proto-Indo-European*léwksmn̥
- Proto-Italic*louksmən
- Latinlūmen
- Latinlūminō
- Latinillūminō
- Late Latinillūminātiō
- Middle Frenchillumination
- Englishillumination
- Englishoverillumination
From over- + illumination.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
overillumination. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overillumination
MLA
“overillumination.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overillumination. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “overillumination,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overillumination.
Source: overillumination on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.