overcapitalize

verb

over·​cap·​i·​tal·​ize ˌō-vər-ˈka-pə-tə-ˌlīz How to pronounce overcapitalize (audio)
-ˈkap-tə-
overcapitalized; overcapitalizing; overcapitalizes

transitive verb

1
: to put a nominal value on the capital of (a corporation) higher than actual cost or fair market value
2
: to capitalize beyond what the business or the profit-making prospects warrant
overcapitalization noun

Examples of overcapitalize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Silvergate had said repeatedly the loan, and a few others like it, were overcapitalized with bitcoin and safe. David Benoit, WSJ, 27 Mar. 2023 Don’t overcapitalize your business. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 6 July 2022 Yet now banks gripe that the Fed’s leverage limit is too stringent, and Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein last year complained that banks are overcapitalized. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 19 Apr. 2018 SoftBank CEO Aims to Be Biggest Tech Investor Son’s mega-fund will unleash an unprecedented amount of money into sectors already seen as overcapitalized. Peter Elstrom, Bloomberg.com, 21 May 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overcapitalize was in 1890

Dictionary Entries Near overcapitalize

Cite this Entry

“Overcapitalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overcapitalize. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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