overproduction

noun

over·​pro·​duc·​tion ˌō-vər-prə-ˈdək-shən 

-prō-

: the act or an instance of producing too much of something

By law, a French wine maker can only produce so much wine from a given acre of vines. This is meant to prevent uncontrolled—and unconscionable—overproduction.

—Frank J. Prial

That situation came to a head during the Great Depression, when an extended bout of overproduction led to falling prices and a severe farm crisis.

—Tom Philpott

The site will give the company better information about customer demand, helping it avoid shortages of popular vehicles and overproduction of duds.

—Eric Young

In sensitized individuals, normally harmless substances, such as pollens and molds, trigger the overproduction of histamine …

—Gary Rachelefsky

Examples of overproduction in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Diesel Loves is an ongoing call-to-action for fellow brands to creatively address the industry’s ongoing overproduction problem. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 23 Jan. 2025

Alcohol can also lead to the overproduction of stomach acid, and conditions such as heartburn and acid reflux. —George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024

The domestic market is also marked by overproduction and cutthroat price competition that risks sending the economy into deflation, Liu warned. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2024

Consequently, consumers endure the worst of both worlds: a commodity that is susceptible to rapid price increases, lacking the infrastructure to reduce prices during periods of overproduction, all while relying on an emissions-intensive delivery system. —Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above