underspecification

noun

Inadequate specification; failure to specify in enough detail.

“The underspecification of the project led to the development of software that was not fit for purpose.”

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Meanings

noununderspecification (countable and uncountable, plural underspecifications)

plural underspecifications

  1. countableuncountableInadequate specification; failure to specify in enough detail.

    The underspecification of the project led to the development of software that was not fit for purpose.

  2. countableuncountablehuman sciencesA phenomenon in which certain features are omitted in underlying representations.

Origin

From under- + specification.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Hungarian alulszabottság
  • alulszabottságlinguistics: a phenomenon in which certain features are omitted in underlying representations
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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