Say it like this
- We introduced a regression in the login flow
- This is a regression from the last release
- We need to run regression testing before deployment
Use it at work
Bug reports
- This is a regression. It worked in the last release.
- We found a regression in search after the update.
Testing
- Let's add a test so this regression doesn't come back.
- Run the regression tests before release.
Performance
- There's a performance regression. Pages are 30% slower.
- Which commit caused the regression?
Don't say this
Regression is a noun describing the problem, not a verb. You cannot regression something; you test for regressions or fix a regression.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| regression | Something that used to work broke | QA, developers | After changes |
| bug | Any mistake in code | Developers | Any time |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your update broke the file upload feature. How do you report this?
2. Before shipping this release, we must run full _______ to ensure we did not break anything.
3. Which sentence uses regression correctly?
4. Rewrite this using regression: 'Our new code broke something that was working before and now customers cannot log in.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"We introduced a regression in the login flow"
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More about regression
Real examples(3)
- in a standup
"I found a regression—the user profile page is now throwing a 500 error after yesterday's changes."
- in a code review
"Have you tested this thoroughly? I'm worried it might introduce a regression in the checkout process."
- in a team meeting
"We should add regression tests to our CI pipeline to catch these issues automatically."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Do not confuse with statistical regression (data analysis). In software, regression always means a bug that appeared after a code change.
- ✕The regression happened because of a statistical error.✓The regression happened because our code change broke the API.
In tech context, regression means a bug from code changes, not a statistical calculation issue.
- ✕We will regression this issue.✓We will investigate this regression, or: We will regression-test this module.
Regression should be used as a noun or in compound nouns like regression test, not as a verb in this context.
Other forms(3)
- regression noun
"We discovered a critical regression in the payment module."
- regression testing adjective
"Regression testing is essential before every release."
- regression bugs adjective
"The team spent three hours fixing regression bugs."
Often used with(5)
- introduce a regression · to accidentally create a bug through code changes
- catch a regression · to find or detect a regression, usually through testing
- regression testing · testing that checks if recent changes broke existing features
- regression suite · a collection of automated tests designed to find regressions
- critical regression · a serious regression that severely impacts the product
Similar words(3)
- bug · Bug is more general; regression is specifically a bug caused by recent changes.
- breakage · Breakage is more informal and colloquial; regression is more precise.
- defect · Defect is formal but does not imply the change caused it, unlike regression.
Opposites(3)
- improvement
- fix
- enhancement
Questions(5)
- What does regression mean in software engineering?
- A regression is a bug or broken feature that appears after a code change. It means something that was working correctly stopped working because of recent modifications. For example, if you update the login system and suddenly users cannot reset their passwords, that is a regression.
- How do you use regression in a sentence at work?
- You might say: We found a regression in the dashboard, or We should regression-test before releasing, or This change introduced a critical regression. You can use it as a noun (the regression) or in compound terms (regression test, regression bug).
- Is regression formal or informal?
- Regression is neutral and professional. It is used regularly in both formal meetings and casual team conversations. It is the standard technical term in the industry, so using it makes you sound knowledgeable.
- Can regression be used as a verb?
- Not directly. You do not regression something. Instead, you use phrases like regression-test, introduce a regression, or catch a regression. The verb forms are separate: test, break, or fail.
- What is the difference between a regression and a regular bug?
- A regression is specifically a bug caused by recent code changes. A regular bug could have existed in the code from the start. Regressions are particularly frustrating because they break things that used to work.
