OVERCOMPENSATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does overcompensation mean? 

• OVERCOMPENSATION (noun)
  The noun OVERCOMPENSATION has 2 senses:

1. (psychiatry) an attempt to overcome a real or imagined defect or unwanted trait by overly exaggerating its opposite

2. excessive compensation

  Familiarity information: OVERCOMPENSATION used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OVERCOMPENSATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(psychiatry) an attempt to overcome a real or imagined defect or unwanted trait by overly exaggerating its opposite

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Hypernyms ("overcompensation" is a kind of...):

compensation ((psychiatry) a defense mechanism that conceals your undesirable shortcomings by exaggerating desirable behaviors)

Domain category:

psychiatry; psychological medicine; psychopathology (the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders)

Derivation:

overcompensate (make up for shortcomings or a feeling of inferiority by exaggerating good qualities)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Excessive compensation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("overcompensation" is a kind of...):

compensation (something (such as money) given or received as payment or reparation (as for a service or loss or injury))