{
  "id": "mission-creep.drift",
  "term": "mission creep",
  "sense": "drift",
  "pos": "noun",
  "status": "review",
  "level": 15,
  "arena": "emergence",
  "domain": "drift nobody noticed",
  "style": "folk",
  "definition": "drift of a parameter that narrows the window because the self-model of the system no longer matches its actual boundary",
  "folk_gloss": "a project slowly expanding beyond its original goals",
  "emergence": {
    "components": [
      "drift.aimless",
      "window.range",
      "boundary.limit",
      "self-model.reflexive"
    ],
    "interaction": "phrase.emergence_lexicon_entry",
    "novel_properties": [
      "emergence.novel_properties"
    ]
  },
  "examples": [
    {
      "text": "The F-35 program's initial air-to-air combat role expanded to include ground attack, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare, doubling development time.",
      "domain": "engineering"
    },
    {
      "text": "UNIFIL’s 1978 mandate to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon grew to include civilian aid and border monitoring after 2006 hostilities.",
      "domain": "institutions"
    },
    {
      "text": "Windows 10's 'Recommended' apps feature began with app suggestions but later included ads and third-party promotions without user consent.",
      "domain": "computing"
    }
  ],
  "relations": [],
  "used_by": [],
  "forms": [
    "mission creep"
  ],
  "closed": false,
  "provenance": {
    "author": "phrases:qwen/qwen3-235b-a22b-2507",
    "date": "2026-07-29",
    "confidence": 0.7,
    "sources": [
      "folk phrase — drift nobody noticed"
    ]
  },
  "canonical": "https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-mission-creep.drift"
}