overpayment

noun

over·​pay·​ment ˌō-vər-ˈpā-mənt 

plural overpayments

: payment that exceeds what is necessary

overpayment of taxes

… implemented electronic payrolls for all employees to prevent overpayment …

—Jocelyn Brumbaugh

also : an amount that is paid in excess

… two taxpayers could not get refunds of tax overpayments dating back more than four years …

—Samantha McCaughren

Examples of overpayment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That money may be withheld from benefit checks until the overpayment has been repaid. —Lorie Konish, CNBC, 11 May 2025

Dudley took her mother off auto pay and said AT&T sent gift cards to compensate for overpayment. —Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2025

Under the new rule, the 50% clawback for overpayments started April 25, according to the SSA's statement. —Alain Sherter, CBS News, 5 May 2025

Medicare Advantage has cost substantially more than the traditional Medicare program, Moreover, overpayment has increased in recent years. —Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overpayment

• underpayment
• claimant
• payment
• copayment
• embayment
• nonpayment
• prepayment
• repayment

Legal Definition

overpayment

noun

over·​pay·​ment

ˈō-vər-ˌpā-mənt

: payment in excess of what is due