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

In the instances when the state has accidentally paid an employee too much money, departments offer ways to pay it back via cash or check, payroll deductions or offsetting the overpayment with leave credits. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026

The Jeannot signing was widely panned as an overpayment. —Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026

Another new law, Senate Bill 1808, requires providers and health care facilities to refund overpayments made by patients within 30 days. —Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 2 Jan. 2026

This applies even if the overpayment wasn’t your fault. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 31 Dec. 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