overcapacity

[ oh-ver-kuh-pas-i-tee ]

noun

, plural o·ver·ca·pac·i·ties.

1. capacity beyond what is normal, allowed, or desirable.

overcapacity

/ ˌəʊvəkəˈpæsɪtɪ /

noun

1. the situation in which an industry or business cannot sell as much as it produces

Word History and Origins

Origin of overcapacity¹

First recorded in 1925–30; over- + capacity

Example Sentences

That leaves some labs stretched to overcapacity while others stand idle.

From Time

The petrochemicals industry is already burdened with overcapacity, even as it pours billions into capacity expansions.

From Vox

Rising competition and overcapacity in the panel-producing industry has driven down the cost of solar panel systems.

From The Daily Beast

America has a vast overcapacity of things like bedrooms, cars, and conference rooms, all of them idle most of the time.

From The Daily Beast

Despite this existing overcapacity, another 1.4 billion gallons of distilling capacity is under construction.

From The Daily Beast