overdraft

noun

over·​draft ˈō-vər-ˌdraft 

1

: an act of overdrawing at a bank : the state of being overdrawn

also : the sum overdrawn

2

: line of credit

Examples of overdraft in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Marcus by Goldman Sachs® High-Yield Online Savings Account also offers a solid rate with no monthly or overdraft fees, as well as no minimum balance requirements. —Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026

Keep a cash buffer in your checking account so holds and timing quirks don’t cause overdrafts. —True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

That means a single overdraft or paycheck delay can trigger penalties that turn a low-cost purchase into an expensive one. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026

American banks and credit unions made at least $30 billion in annual profits from overdrafts as of 2020. —Aaron Klein, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for overdraft

• allograft
• autograft
• autographed
• countershaft
• handicraft
• homograft
• hovercraft
• lithographed
• photographed
• rotorcraft
• telegraphed
• understaffed

Kids Definition

overdraft

noun

over·​draft ˈō-vər-ˌdraft 

: an overdrawing of a bank account or the amount overdrawn

Legal Definition

overdraft

noun

over·​draft ˈō-vər-ˌdraft 

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