Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

overdetermine

verb

/ˌoʊvərdɪˈtɜːrmin/

Definition

To determine something in such a way that it has more than one possible explanation or cause.

Examples

In art analysis, critics often overdetermine the meaning of a piece, attributing too many influences to its creation.
The study showed that the outcome could be overdetermined by several factors, complicating the conclusions.

Meaning

In a causal context, overdetermine means that a situation or outcome can be attributed to multiple causes, making it unclear which one is the true reason for the result.