overqualified

American  

[oh-ver-kwol-uh-fahyd] / ˈoʊ vərˈkwɒl əˌfaɪd /

adjective

1. having more education, training, or experience than is required for a job or position.

---

overqualified British  

/ ˌəʊvəˈkwɒlɪˌfaɪd /

adjective

1. having more managerial experience or academic qualifications than required for a particular job

---

Etymology

Origin of overqualified

First recorded in 1950–55; over- + qualified

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

overqualified

The moves come on top of a long-practiced yield-protection tactic: Rejecting or wait listing applicants who seem overqualified and therefore unlikely to enroll.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026

I’m paid 25 percent less than I was for my job at Meta, with five annual PTO days and zero paid holidays, and I’m overqualified for the work I do.

From Slate ● Apr. 20, 2026

Gen Z women participate in the workforce at higher rates than their male counterparts, and often accept jobs they’re overqualified for rather than not working.

From Salon ● Nov. 21, 2025

Gilchrist scored 17 Test hundreds as he switched between a destroyer of tiring attacks to a man overqualified for a rebuild from number seven when the great Australian top order did fail.

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2025

“Well, the whole thing doesn’t really strike me as your type of scene, but if you ask me, you’re overqualified for the job.”

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy