Overpricing: meaning, definitions and examples

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overpricing

 

[ ˈoʊvərˌpraɪsɪŋ ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

business

The act of setting prices too high for the value of a product or service, often resulting in decreased sales and customer dissatisfaction.

Synonyms

excessive pricing, inflated prices, price gouging.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
overpricing

Used when the price set for a product or service is higher than it should be in a general sense.

  • The company was accused of overpricing their new line of smartphones, making them unaffordable for many consumers
inflated prices

Refers to prices that have been increased to an unreasonable or artificial level, often due to external factors.

  • During the holiday season, many retailers set inflated prices for popular toys
excessive pricing

Often used in a formal or business context where the prices exceed what is deemed reasonable or fair.

  • The regulatory body investigated the hospital for excessive pricing of medical procedures
price gouging

Has a negative connotation and is used to describe the act of raising prices to an unfair level, particularly during emergencies or shortages.

  • The store was criticized for price gouging bottled water during the hurricane

Examples of usage

  • Overpricing can lead to losing customers to competitors who offer more reasonable prices.
  • When the company was accused of overpricing their products, their reputation suffered.
  • Customers are quick to notice when overpricing occurs and are likely to seek alternatives.
Context #2 | Verb

economics

To set the price of a product or service higher than its perceived value, potentially harming sales and customer loyalty.

Synonyms

charge too much, inflate the price, mark up excessively.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
overpricing

Similar to 'overpricing,' this refers to setting prices too high but can be used more as a general complaint about the high cost rather than a technical term. It usually carries a negative connotation.

  • Customers are complaining about overpricing in many of the city's new restaurants
inflate the price

This phrase suggests that someone is deliberately increasing prices, often for deceptive or unfair reasons. It's commonly used in discussions about fraud, manipulation, or unethical business practices.

  • The company was found guilty of inflating the price of essential drugs
charge too much

This is a more informal way of saying that someone is asking for too much money for their goods or services. It's commonly used in everyday conversations and can be perceived negatively.

  • The plumber charged too much for fixing the leak, considering it only took him 10 minutes
mark up excessively

This term is often used in retail or wholesale contexts where the standard practice is to apply a markup. However, 'excessively' implies that the markup is unreasonably high, often seen as unfair.

  • The boutique marked up their designer clothes excessively, making them unaffordable for most people

Examples of usage

  • Some businesses overprice their products in an attempt to maximize profits, but this strategy can backfire.
  • Customers may feel deceived if they discover that a company is intentionally overpricing its offerings.

Translations

Translations of the word "overpricing" in other languages:

🇵🇹 superfaturamento

🇮🇳 अधिक मूल्य निर्धारण

🇩🇪 Überteuerung

🇮🇩 pemahalan

🇺🇦 завищення цін

🇵🇱 przesadzanie z cenami

🇯🇵 過剰価格設定 (かじょうかかくせってい)

🇫🇷 surtarification

🇪🇸 sobreprecio

🇹🇷 aşırı fiyatlandırma

🇰🇷 과잉 가격 책정 (gwahing gagyeok chaekjeong)

🇸🇦 التسعير الزائد

🇨🇿 předražení

🇸🇰 nadhodnocovanie

🇨🇳 定价过高 (dìngjià guò gāo)

🇸🇮 precenjevanje

🇮🇸 ofverðlagning

🇰🇿 бағаны асыра бағалау

🇬🇪 ფასების გადაჭარბება

🇦🇿 qiymətlərin çox artırılması

🇲🇽 sobreprecio

Etymology

The term 'overpricing' originated from the combination of 'over' and 'pricing', indicating the action of setting prices too high. It has been commonly used in the business and economic sectors to describe the negative impact of excessive pricing on consumers and markets. Overpricing can lead to market inefficiencies, consumer dissatisfaction, and loss of competitive advantage. Businesses that engage in overpricing may face legal repercussions and damage to their reputation.

See also: overprice, overpriced, precious, price, priceless, pricer, prices, pricey, underprice, underpriced.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,021, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.