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

Despite growing calls for Beijing to rein in its supply overcapacity, manufacturing accounted for around 26% of China's GDP in the first quarter, Caixin said, citing official figures. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 July 2025

Along with Trump’s growth-killing tariffs arms race, China is already sharing its overcapacity troubles with the world. —William Pesek, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

India, Vietnam and Indonesia have imposed various protectionist measures to provide some relief for domestic producers from intense price competition, particularly in sectors facing overcapacity and cheap imports. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 6 June 2025

Europe now stands alone to face its multifaceted and intertwined challenges: a revanchist Russia on full wartime footing, Chinese export overcapacity threatening European industry, and the continent’s own sagging growth of around one percent annually. —Theodore Bunzel, Foreign Affairs, 30 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overcapacity

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