overutilization

noun

over·​uti·​li·​za·​tion ¦ō-vər-ˌyü-tə-lə-¦zā-shən 

-ˌlī-¦zā-

variants also British overutilisation

: excessive utilization : overuse

… suggests that the best way to curb overutilization of health care may be to shift more of the financial burden to workers.

—Janice Castro et al., Time, 1 Feb. 1988

overutilize

¦ō-vər-¦yü-tə-ˌlīz 

transitive verb

also British overutilise

overutilized; overutilizing; overutilizes

According to another study … exercise is underutilized, while drugs, especially potentially addictive narcotic pain medications, are overutilized.

—Food & Fitness Advisor, July 2009

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

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Rhymes for overutilization

• americanization
• anticoagulation
• antidiscrimination
• bioaccumulation
• bioremediation
• compartmentalization
• contextualization
• copolymerization
• decriminalization
• dehumidification
• demilitarization
• demineralization