Data Science & ML

Overfitting

/ˌəʊvəˈfɪtɪŋ/

Definition

When an ML model learns training data too precisely — including noise — and fails to generalise to new examples.

Example in context

"99% training accuracy but 62% on the test set — classic overfitting. We added dropout and reduced model complexity."

Related terms

Practice this term

Master Overfitting in context by working through exercises in the Data Science & ML module. You'll see the term used in real engineering scenarios with multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and matching drills.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Overfitting" mean?

When an ML model learns training data too precisely — including noise — and fails to generalise to new examples.

How do you pronounce "Overfitting"?

"Overfitting" is pronounced /ˌəʊvəˈfɪtɪŋ/.

Can you use "Overfitting" in a sentence?

"99% training accuracy but 62% on the test set — classic overfitting. We added dropout and reduced model complexity."