overpayment

noun

over·​pay·​ment ˌō-vər-ˈpā-mənt 

plural overpayments

: payment that exceeds what is necessary

overpayment of taxes

… implemented electronic payrolls for all employees to prevent overpayment …

—Jocelyn Brumbaugh

also : an amount that is paid in excess

… two taxpayers could not get refunds of tax overpayments dating back more than four years …

—Samantha McCaughren

Examples of overpayment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Due to receiving the boost while not qualifying, Patterson received over $8,200 in overpayments, the complaint said. —Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2025

Ortiz would pay Pilawski money that came from the overpayments, prosecutors said. —Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2025

Keast told Forbes that borrowers who become eligible for forgiveness while the program is on pause and keep making payments will have any overpayments refunded. —Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025

You're expected to keep making payments as scheduled, and while any overpayments should eventually be refunded, the reality is you're left in limbo. —Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overpayment

• underpayment
• claimant
• payment
• copayment
• embayment
• nonpayment
• prepayment
• repayment

Legal Definition

overpayment

noun

over·​pay·​ment

ˈō-vər-ˌpā-mənt

: payment in excess of what is due