overdraft
Americannoun
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an act or instance of overdrawing a checking account.
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a check overdrawn on a checking account.
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the amount overdrawn.
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an excessive drawing on or drawing off of something.
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a draft made to pass over a fire, as in a furnace.
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a draft passing downward through a kiln.
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Metalworking. a tendency of a rolled piece to curve upward after passing through a stand, occurring when the lower roll is faster than the upper.
noun
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a draft or withdrawal of money in excess of the credit balance on a bank or building-society cheque account
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the amount of money drawn or withdrawn thus
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of overdraft
Vocabulary lists containing overdraft
Personal Finance and Financial Literacy - Introductory
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Personal Finance and Financial Literacy - High School
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Personal Finance and Financial Literacy - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
These accounts are free, do not include an overdraft facility, and provide essential banking for those unable to open a mainstream account.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
That same month “was the first month I didn’t overdraft my credit card,” he said, with the majority of his income today coming from the restaurant.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
Bank fees such as monthly maintenance or overdraft charges, or even holds on the account could temporarily alter the available balance.
From MarketWatch ● May 19, 2026
The only money rule I knew then was “Don’t overdraft your bank account.”
From Slate ● Feb. 19, 2026
Ashamed for not understanding why we were always paying late fees and overdraft charges.
From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle
Rabo personnel visited McClain at his Kentucky farm to discuss overdrafts and other issues that had raised questions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 7, 2026
One victim was left hospitalised with stress after their finances were "destroyed" when loans, credit agreements and overdrafts were taken out using their name.
From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2025
Before 2008, banks paid fees for overdrafts and managed their liquidity carefully.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2025
Last year, according to the CFPB, banks collected about $5.8 billion worth of fees for overdrafts and non-sufficient funds — that is, when a check bounces or a payment is declined.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 12, 2024
A. Yes; it would perhaps be well to point out that in Scotland a large portion of advances made to traders are granted in the form of overdrafts on current accounts.
From Readings in Money and Banking Selected and Adapted by Phillips, Chester Arthur
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
