overcharge

[ verb oh-ver-chahrj; noun oh-ver-chahrj ]

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·charged, o·ver·charg·ing.

1. to charge (a purchaser) too high a price:

   When the manager realized we'd been overcharged, she gave us a credit for the difference.

2. to fill too full; overload.
3. to exaggerate:

   to overcharge the importance of ancestry.

verb (used without object)

, o·ver·charged, o·ver·charg·ing.

1. to make an excessive charge; charge too much for something.

noun

1. a charge in excess of a stated or just price.
2. an act of overcharging.
3. an excessive load.

overcharge

verb

1. to charge too much
2. tr to fill or load beyond capacity
3. literary.
   another word for exaggerate

noun

1. an excessive price or charge
2. an excessive load

Other Words From

• over·charger noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of overcharge¹

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; over-, charge

Example Sentences

Although the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, Battalion Chief Chad Willenberg told NBC 7 on Thursday night that it could have been the result of overcharging the batteries.

From Los Angeles Times

Donald Trump overcharged the Secret Service for hotel stays and took in cash from ambassador and appointee stays in an attempt to enrich himself as president, the House Oversight Committee alleged on Friday.

From Salon

In 2017, he questioned a nearly $300-million surplus that was the result of the department overcharging its customers, including the federal government, according to the lawsuit.

From Los Angeles Times

The plaintiffs accused Albertsons of overcharging customers in part by short-weighting produce, meats, baked goods and other items — that is, selling less product than than its package labels indicated.

From Los Angeles Times

The policy requires that customers who are overcharged for an item either receive the item for free or receive a $5 gift card, depending on which option is worth more.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cheat
• fleece
• overtax