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

Those diversions have essentially prevented an overcapacity situation from cramping the global supply chain that has already seen plenty of congestion at Asian and European ports throughout 2025. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 4 Nov. 2025

Although there was a dip, shelters remain overcapacity, with 175,000 more animals arriving than leaving from January to June. —Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025

But the country’s industrial innovation has also been marred by production overcapacity. —Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2025

The industry is already facing significant pressure from unsustainable levels of global overcapacity, the bloc said. —Tasmin Lockwood,holly Ellyatt,chloe Taylor, CNBC, 8 Oct. 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