Definition of overdraft
1 : an act of overdrawing at a bank : the state of being overdrawn; also : the sum overdrawn
2 : line of credit
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of overdraft from the Web
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In a hypothetical example, a consumer wanting to dispute a $35 overdraft charge is not likely to hire a lawyer to sue his or her bank.
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In a hypothetical example, a consumer wanting to dispute a $35 overdraft charge is not likely to hire a lawyer to sue his or her bank.
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This stems from a change in the law in 2010 that is aimed at protecting consumers from incurring massive overdraft charges on silly little debit card purchases.
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Opt out of overdraft protection with your financial institution, but every month before your credit card payment rolls around, make sure your balance is enough to cover it.
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Think overdraft fees on checking accounts, or late fees for credit cards.
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Avoid overdrafts Moving in with a significant other isn’t always seamless, and combining your money in the same checking account can complicate things even more.
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When the state funds arrived in August 2011, bank records showed Divine Praise Inc. had a negative account balance, canceled payments and pending overdraft fees.
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Nearly half of those with bank accounts had at least one overdraft.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'overdraft.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of overdraft
1812
Financial Definition of OVERDRAFT
overdraft
What It Is
How It Works
Let’s assume John Doe has $1,000 in his checking account today. He goes to the mall and writes a check for $1,250 at a furniture store. Because there are insufficient funds to cover the amount of the check, John is going to overdraft his account.
When the furniture retailer attempts to deposit the check, the furniture retailer’s bank (Bank ABC) will present the check to John Doe’s bank for payment. John Doe’s bank will then either pay the check (which might occur if John Doe has overdraft protection at his bank) or "bounce" the check by returning it to Bank ABC without payment. Often, banks stamp the check itself with a large "NSF" stamp (which stands for “nonsufficient funds”). Typically, Bank ABC will charge the furniture retailer a fee for presenting a bad check, and John Doe’s bank will charge John for the overdraft. The furniture store will also likely charge John Doe a fee for the overdraft.
Why It Matters
In most states, writing a bad check is at least a misdemeanor, with the consequences growing depending on the state, the amount involved and whether the transaction crosses state lines. Most overdrafts are simply oversights by consumers, so even if the police are not involved, the fees for bouncing checks can run in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars if the check writer is particularly disorganized. For this reason, it’s important to have an overdraft line or a second account from which a bank may draw when the funds in the check writer’s primary account are insufficient.
OVERDRAFT Defined for English Language Learners
overdraft
playDefinition of overdraft for English Language Learners
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: an amount of money that is spent by someone using a bank account that is more than the amount available in the account : an amount that is overdrawn from an account
Law Dictionary
overdraft
playLegal Definition of overdraft
1 : the act or result of drawing on a bank account for more than the balance; also : the amount exceeding the balance in an overdraft
2 : a loan or credit extended on a current account especially to established or institutional customers
Learn More about overdraft
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See words that rhyme with overdraft Spanish Central: Translation of overdraft Nglish: Translation of overdraft for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of overdraft for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about overdraft
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