# anti-pattern

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/anti-pattern
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

a common response to a problem that seems like a good idea at first but actually makes things worse. It is a mistake that people repeat often because it looks like a shortcut or an easy fix.

For teachers: a common solution to a recurring problem that is ineffective or counterproductive in practice. While initially attractive, it typically introduces more problems than it solves and is often used as a cautionary term in software engineering and management.

## Examples

- Hard-coding passwords into your software is a dangerous anti-pattern.
- The team realized that 'micromanagement' was an anti-pattern that destroyed productivity instead of improving it.
- While the 'God Object' might seem like a convenient way to centralize data, it is a classic architectural anti-pattern that makes the codebase nearly impossible to maintain or test.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in technical and professional contexts, particularly in software development and organizational theory.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.