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Overcharging: meaning, definitions and examples

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overcharging

 

[ ˌoʊvərˈtʃɑːrdʒɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

financial transaction

Overcharging refers to the act of charging someone more than the appropriate or fair price for goods or services. This practice can occur in various settings, such as retail, hospitality, and service industries. It often leads to consumer dissatisfaction and can be considered unethical or illegal under certain circumstances. Overcharging can be intentional or accidental, but regardless of the motive, it generally violates the principles of fair commerce.

Synonyms

excess charging, inflated pricing, overpricing

Examples of usage

  • The restaurant was accused of overcharging customers for drinks.
  • He realized the mechanic was overcharging him for the repairs.
  • The concert promoter faced backlash for overcharging fans for tickets.

Translations

Translations of the word "overcharging" in other languages:

🇵🇹 cobrança excessiva

🇮🇳 अधिक चार्ज करना

🇩🇪 Überladung

🇮🇩 pengenaan biaya berlebihan

🇺🇦 переплата

🇵🇱 przeładowanie

🇯🇵 過剰請求

🇫🇷 surfacturation

🇪🇸 sobrecarga

🇹🇷 aşırı ücretlendirme

🇰🇷 과도한 요금 청구

🇸🇦 تحصيل مبالغ زائدة

🇨🇿 přeúčtování

🇸🇰 preúčtovanie

🇨🇳 过度收费

🇸🇮 prekomerno zaračunavanje

🇮🇸 ofurlaun

🇰🇿 артық төлем

🇬🇪 მაღალი გადასახადი

🇦🇿 artıq ödəniş

🇲🇽 cobro excesivo

Etymology

The term 'overcharging' is derived from the prefix 'over-', meaning 'excessive' or 'too much', combined with 'charging', which originates from Middle English 'chargen', meaning 'to load or put a burden on'. The word 'charge' in this context relates to the act of requiring payment for a service or product. The practice of overcharging can be traced back to early commerce when mercantilism allowed merchants to set prices often at their discretion. As economies evolved, consumer protection laws emerged to curb the tendency of businesses to overcharge in order to ensure fair trade practices. 'Overcharging' has become especially relevant in the digital age with the rise of e-commerce and increased awareness of consumer rights.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #32,962 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.