incremental improvement
noun phraseUK /ˌɪŋ.krəˈmen.təl ɪmˈpruːv.mənt/
US /ˌɪŋ.krəˈmen.t̬əl ɪmˈpruːv.mənt/
A small step-by-step change that makes something a little better each time.
The team made an incremental improvement to the app by fixing one small bug each day.
SYNONYMS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A minor upgrade made to a product or process without changing its basic design.
The new phone model is just an incremental improvement over last year's version.
3. The practice of making many small changes over time to reach a larger goal.
Her fitness plan relies on incremental improvement rather than sudden big changes.
4. A slight gain in performance or quality measured against a previous result.
The sales report showed an incremental improvement of two percent this quarter.