overcapacity

IPA/ˌəʊvəkəˈpæsəti/
KK[ˈovɚkəpˈæsəti]IPA/ˌəʊvərkəˈpæsəti/

overcapacity — noun

1. A mismatch between production capacity and customer demand, where companies make

1.名詞B2
釋義

A mismatch between production capacity and customer demand, where companies make more goods or offer more services than people are willing to buy at current prices.

例句

The European steel industry has struggled with chronic overcapacity for more than a decade.

collocation: chronic overcapacity

Quan warned investors that overcapacity in the solar panel market could push prices down sharply.

同義詞
  • oversupply

    focuses on the excess quantity of goods rather than production capacity itself

  • glut

    more informal and dramatic; suggests a temporary flood of goods on the market

  • surplus

    general term for any excess; lacks the specific meaning of unused production capacity

反義詞

用法筆記

Frequently used with an industry sector in a phrase introduced by 'in' (e.g. 'overcapacity in steel'). Subject is usually an industry, economy, or production sector.

常見錯誤

❌The company had overcapacity of workers.
✅The company had excess staff / too many workers.
💡'overcapacity' refers to production volume, not people.
❌There is overcapacity of 5000 cars.
✅There is an overcapacity of 5000 cars in the factory.
💡As a countable singular, it takes the article 'an' when followed by 'of + number'.

2. A condition in which a container, space, or system holds an amount that fills or

2.名詞C1
釋義

A condition in which a container, space, or system holds an amount that fills or goes beyond its intended limit, so that it cannot safely or properly contain everything inside.

例句

The water tank reached overcapacity after three days of heavy rain in the hills.

phrase: reach overcapacity

Ife realized the storage unit had overcapacity, so several boxes would have to stay in the hall.

同義詞
  • overload

    commoner alternative; applies to both physical weight and electronic/electrical systems

  • overflow

    implies the excess spills out of the container

用法筆記

Object of the containment is usually a physical item or substance (water, cargo, luggage). Less common than the industry sense; hearers may misinterpret it as the manufacturing meaning unless context clearly names a container.

常見錯誤

❌The stadium had overcapacity last night.
✅The stadium was over capacity / overcrowded last night.
💡For venues holding people, use 'overcrowded' or 'over capacity' (two words) rather than the single noun 'overcapacity'.