'oversimplification' originates from the prefix 'over-' meaning 'excessively' and the word 'simplification' from Latin 'simplificare', where 'simplex' meant 'simple' and 'facere' meant 'to make'.

'simplificare' transformed into the French word 'simplifier', and eventually became the modern English word 'simplify', leading to 'oversimplification'.

Initially, it meant 'to make simple', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'making excessively simple'.