feature creep
/ˈfiːtʃər kriːp/
CommonWhen a product keeps gaining new features until it becomes bloated and hard to ship.
Often used critically, pointing at a process or team that lost discipline. Sometimes used self-deprecatingly by engineers who recognize they are doing it.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | We were supposed to ship a landing page and now it has user accounts, a dashboard, and two payment tiers. Feature creep at its finest. | The project grew way beyond its original scope. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | every time i open this app there's a new tab i didn't ask for. this is why software gets bad. feature creep. | The app keeps adding things nobody wanted. | reddit, 2023 |
| 03 | product said just one more feature before launch. that was 6 weeks ago. | Feature additions kept delaying the release. | x, 2024 |
| 04 | honest question: does anyone actually use half the buttons in this app or is this just feature creep for the roadmap slides | Many features exist to look good in presentations, not because users need them. | reddit, 2023 |
Use it when
- A project keeps getting new requirements added before it ships.
- A simple tool has been expanded into something huge and complicated.
- Stakeholders keep asking for 'one more thing' past the deadline.
- The original MVP spec has tripled in size.
Do not use it when
- A product is genuinely growing in a healthy, planned way.
- You mean bugs introduced by adding features.Use “regression” instead.
- You mean the project is going over time due to poor estimates.Use “scope creep” instead.
Variations and related forms
Feature creep vs scope creep
feature creep
Feature creep is specifically about adding more features to a product.
VS
scope-creep
Scope creep is broader and covers any expansion of project requirements, including non-feature work like integrations or compliance tasks.
Origin and context
Originated in software engineering. The term appeared in technical literature by the 1990s and became widely used as Agile and product management culture spread online.
- First seen
- 1990s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/feature-creepUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0