overdraft

American  

[oh-ver-draft, -drahft] / ˈoʊ vərˌdræft, -ˌdrɑft /

noun

• overdrafts
  plural

1. an act or instance of overdrawing a checking account.

2. a check overdrawn on a checking account.

3. the amount overdrawn.

4. an excessive drawing on or drawing off of something.

5. a draft made to pass over a fire, as in a furnace.

6. a draft passing downward through a kiln.

7. 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.

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overdraft British  

/ ˈəʊvəˌdrɑːft /

noun

1. a draft or withdrawal of money in excess of the credit balance on a bank or building-society cheque account

2. the amount of money drawn or withdrawn thus

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overdraft Cultural  

1. The amount by which a check exceeds the funds on deposit to cover it.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• overdrafts
  plural

Etymology

Origin of overdraft

First recorded in 1875–80; over- + draft

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

overdraft overdrafts

The list of expenses goes on: credit-card debts, overdraft fees, interest on loans, funeral costs, unpaid taxes, administration fees for the estate.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 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

In the two years after his first Rabo loan, McClain fell into overdraft dozens of times, sometimes almost daily.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 7, 2026

The irregularity of student finance payments made it difficult to budget, which Denby said often caused her to rely on an overdraft alongside income from a part-time job.

From BBC ● Mar. 25, 2026

Ashamed for not understanding why we were always paying late fees and overdraft charges.

From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle

To see McClain through the latest overdrafts, Rabo lent another $4.5 million.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 7, 2026

"We get lots of clients coming in struggling with credit cards, loans, overdrafts, council tax, their rent, mortgage," says Blake Harmer, the Citizens Advice supervisor.

From BBC ● May 4, 2026

Banks would have fewer excess reserves, so they’d need overdrafts again.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2025

And earlier this month issued landmark rules that could lower the costs of bank overdrafts to as little as $5.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2024

I knew that if the bank began calling in overdrafts it might be my turn next.

From Further Foolishness by Stephen Leacock

Related Words

• default
• disaster
• failure
• insolvency
• liquidation
• loss