overestimation

noun

over·​es·​ti·​ma·​tion ˌō-vər-ˌe-stə-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce overestimation (audio)
plural overestimations
: the act or an instance of estimating someone or something too highly
The overestimation of the value of an advance in medicine can lead to more trouble than anyone can foresee …Lewis Thomas
… their wild overestimation of the reader's attention span …Lev Grossman
… potential problems of underestimation or overestimation of disease rates …Tonny J. Oyana et al.

Examples of overestimation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Paramedics arrived about 15 minutes later and injected the 23-year-old with what was later discovered to be a lethal dose of ketamine based on an overestimation of McClain’s weight. Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 This can have various negative consequences: Distorted Perceptions: Anchoring can distort our perception of value, leading to overestimations or underestimations. Bryce Hoffman, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 That overestimation may have contributed to an unrecognized or delayed recognition of someone’s eligibility to receive certain Covid-19 therapies. Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 2 Feb. 2024 This could lead to an overestimation of emissions savings from EVs and potentially less-strict emissions regulations for gasoline vehicles. John Paul Helveston, Scientific American, 13 Dec. 2023 Water experts say overuse, drought, and the drying effects of climate change have contributed to shortages, along with overestimations of available water. Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Sep. 2023 On the other hand, the increase in underestimation was accompanied by a decrease in overestimation, mostly accounted for by changes in how girls reported experiencing their weight. Haley Weiss, Time, 7 July 2023 But people should beware an overestimation of politics, and an overestimation of presidential powers. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 28 June 2023 According to the authors of the rebuttal, the dating technique that had been used for the 2018 findings had been flawed, resulting in the possible overestimation of the arts’ age. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 21 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overestimation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overestimation was in 1808

Dictionary Entries Near overestimation

Cite this Entry

“Overestimation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overestimation. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

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