overcapacity

noun

over·​ca·​pac·​i·​ty ˌō-vər-kə-ˈpa-sə-tē 

-ˈpa-stē

: excessive capacity for production or services in relation to demand

Examples of overcapacity in a Sentence

The airlines are lowering their prices because of an overcapacity of seats.

Recent Examples on the Web

Earnings at large industrial companies jumped by more than 15% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2026 as China flooded the world with exports, triggering demands that Beijing cut back on its overcapacity. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Container shipping could face an overcapacity dilemma if its heavy orderbook arrives faster than cargo needed to fill them. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026

This cycle of price increases serves not only to offset immediate fuel price spikes, but also to make up for unadjusted pricing power lost in recent years due to flight overcapacity, fare suppression, and persistent inflation. — CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

In China, an AI crisis might be set off by overcapacity and what Chinese commentators call neijuan—the grinding, margin-destroying competition that follows. — Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overcapacity

• audacity
• capacity
• fugacity
• loquacity
• mendacity
• opacity
• rapacity
• sagacity
• tenacity
• veracity
• vivacity
• voracity