overpayment

noun

over·​pay·​ment ˌō-vər-ˈpā-mənt How to pronounce overpayment (audio)
plural overpayments
Synonyms of overpaymentnext
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The history of media deals is littered with mistakes and disappointments from AOL Time Warner through AT&T/Warner Media through Disney’s overpayment for Fox. — Howard Homonoff, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 Unless homeowners opt out individually by July 16, more than 200,000 Jackson County households will become part of the lawsuit class seeking a direct one-time refund of overpayments, which some have warned could bankrupt the county. — Ilana Arougheti july 7, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026 Few stars make it to July 1, which has led to major overpayments of the middle class in recent years. — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 6 July 2026 Error rates reflect overpayments or underpayments of SNAP benefits. — Nicole Santa Cruz, ProPublica, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for overpayment

Word History

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overpayment was in 1585

Rhymes for overpayment

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Browse Nearby Words

overpay
overpayment
overpeer
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Cite this Entry

“Overpayment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overpayment. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Legal Definition

overpayment

noun
over·​pay·​ment
ˈō-vər-ˌpā-mənt
: payment in excess of what is due

More from Merriam-Webster on overpayment

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for overpayment

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