Plain English Meaning

Practicing something past the point where you can just barely do it, so that you can still do it well when conditions are difficult or your attention is split.

Full Definition

A level of learning in which a skill or piece of knowledge has been practiced beyond the point of initial mastery, so that it can be performed correctly, quickly, and reliably even under stress, distraction, or fatigue.

Context Anchor

Used in instructor training when discussing how pilots retain knowledge and skills after the first correct performance.

Derivation

From 'over-' meaning beyond, plus 'learning.' The word signals practice that continues beyond the point most people would stop. The aviation meaning keeps that sense: keep going past 'I got it once' until the is .