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Overcharge: meaning, definitions and examples

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overcharge

 

[ ˌoʊvərˈtʃɑːrdʒ ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

finance

To charge someone more than the correct or fair price for goods or services.

Synonyms

fleece, inflate, surcharge.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
overcharge

Used when someone is charged more than the fair or usual price for something. This term is often used in customer service or consumer rights discussions.

  • The store overcharged me for the groceries
  • I need to talk to customer service to fix this
inflate

This is commonly used to describe the increase of prices or values, often artificially, without justification. It can also refer to economic discussions.

  • During the holiday season, retailers tend to inflate the prices of popular items
  • The housing market is inflated due to the high demand
surcharge

This refers to an additional charge or payment imposed on top of the regular price. Surcharges are often seen in bills, fees, or services.

  • The hotel added a surcharge for room service
  • There's a 10% surcharge for late payments
fleece

This has a negative connotation and is used when someone is cheated or swindled out of money, typically in a deceptive manner.

  • The unscrupulous car dealer fleeced the customers by selling them broken vehicles at high prices

Examples of usage

  • The company was accused of overcharging customers for their products.
  • If you feel like you have been overcharged, make sure to check your receipt and contact customer service.
  • The mechanic overcharged me for the repairs on my car.
Context #2 | Noun

business

An excessive or unfair amount charged for goods or services.

Synonyms

excess charge, overpricing, premium.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
overcharge

Overcharge is used when someone asks for more money than is fair or reasonable for a product or service.

  • They overcharged him for the repairs on his car.
  • Be careful with that shop; they have a reputation for overcharging.
excess charge

Excess charge refers to an additional amount of money added to the standard cost, often seen in official or technical contexts.

  • The airline added an excess charge for overweight luggage.
  • There will be an excess charge for international calls.
overpricing

Overpricing happens when the price set for a product or service is higher than what is considered reasonable or usual. This term is used in general discussions about pricing strategies.

  • The company lost customers because of overpricing their new phones.
  • Overpricing can make a product less competitive in the market.
premium

Premium refers to a higher price for a product or service believed to be of higher quality or exclusive. It is often used positively.

  • We offer a premium service that includes 24/7 customer support.
  • She's willing to pay a premium for organic groceries.

Examples of usage

  • I was shocked when I saw the overcharge on my bill.
  • The overcharge on the invoice was a mistake that needed to be corrected.
  • The customers were not happy with the overcharge for the additional services.

Translations

Translations of the word "overcharge" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sobrecarga

🇮🇳 अधिभार

🇩🇪 Überladung

🇮🇩 kelebihan beban

🇺🇦 перевантаження

🇵🇱 przeciążenie

🇯🇵 過負荷

🇫🇷 surcharge

🇪🇸 sobrecarga

🇹🇷 aşırı yük

🇰🇷 과부하

🇸🇦 حمل زائد

🇨🇿 přetížení

🇸🇰 preťaženie

🇨🇳 超载

🇸🇮 preobremenitev

🇮🇸 ofhleðsla

🇰🇿 артық жүк

🇬🇪 ზედმეტი დატვირთვა

🇦🇿 aşırı yüklənmə

🇲🇽 sobrecarga

Etymology

The word 'overcharge' originated in the late 16th century, combining 'over' (beyond) and 'charge'. It initially referred to charging excessively or beyond what is fair. Over the years, the term has become commonly used in various industries, especially in finance and business, to describe the act of charging more than the correct or fair price for goods or services.

See also: chargeable, charged, charger, charges, charging, decharging, discharge, recharge, supercharger, surcharge.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,755, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.