overcharge

verb

over·​charge ˌō-vər-ˈchärj How to pronounce overcharge (audio)
overcharged; overcharging; overcharges

transitive verb

1
: to charge too much or too fully
2
: to fill too full
3

intransitive verb

: to make an excessive charge
overcharge noun

Examples of overcharge in a Sentence

He overcharges for car repairs. He overcharges his customers for car repairs. The store overcharged me for my skirt.
Recent Examples on the Web Walmart is offering $5 gift cards to Alabama customers who were mistakenly overcharged sales tax on Friday when the state’s new sales tax reduction went into effect -- provided shoppers kept their receipt, the company announced Tuesday. Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, 5 Sep. 2023 Every possible solution leaves at least one person feeling scorned (and overcharged). Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 25 Aug. 2023 In 2011, the firm agreed to pay a $108 million settlement after the Federal Trade Commission concluded the company had overcharged more than 450,000 homeowners. Harrison Smith, Washington Post, 19 July 2023 The agency said Wells Fargo also paid account holders about $40 million — including interest — to reimburse customers who’d been overcharged. Matt Egan, CNN, 25 Aug. 2023 The Arkansas Public Service Commission has cleared Summit Utilities Inc. of any violation of commission regulations and also ruled Friday that the utility did not overcharge customers for natural gas when monthly bills spiked last year. Andrew Moreau, Arkansas Online, 19 Aug. 2023 Yet some consumers expressed concerns via online forums, wondering what would happen if they're signed up for automatic payments but then overcharged by mistake. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 16 Aug. 2023 The fund will be divided among the qualified claimants on a pro rata basis, depending on how much they were overcharged by the DWP. Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2023 Bank of America will pay more than $250 million in refunds and fines after federal regulators found the company systematically overcharged customers, withheld promised bonuses and opened accounts without customer approval. Tory Newmyer, Washington Post, 11 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overcharge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overcharge was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near overcharge

Cite this Entry

“Overcharge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overcharge. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

overcharge

verb
over·​charge ˌō-vər-ˈchärj How to pronounce overcharge (audio)
1
: to charge too much
2
: to fill or load too full
a cannon overcharged with powder
overcharge noun

More from Merriam-Webster on overcharge

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