excess
EK-ses
/ɪkˈsɛs/
An amount of something that is more than necessary, permitted, or desirable; in insurance, the maximum amount the policyholder must pay toward a claim.
In British, Australian, and international car rentals, 'excess' is the legal term for what Americans call a 'deductible'—the maximum out-of-pocket expense you face before insurance covers the rest.
The story behind the word. The Latin verb 'excedere' combines 'ex-' (out) and 'cedere' (to go). It literally meant 'to go out' or 'step beyond'. When you have an excess of something, you have stepped way past the boundary of what is normal or required.
Word relationships
- deductible: Deductible is the preferred term in American English, while excess is the standard term in British and Commonwealth English for the same insurance concept.
- surplus: Surplus refers to an extra supply of goods or resources, while excess often carries a negative connotation of being too much or crossing a limit.
- deficiency: A deficiency is a lack or shortage of something, whereas excess is an overabundance or surplus.
Commonly confused with
- access: Access is the right or ability to approach or enter; excess is an amount that exceeds what is normal.
Word family
- excessive (adjective): More than is necessary, normal, or desirable.
- exceed (verb): To go beyond what is allowed or expected.
Collocations
- excess insurance
- excess fee
- in excess of
- excess weight
Idioms & expressions
- to excess
Example sentences
- "The rental agreement has a €1,000 excess, meaning I will have to pay for any damages up to that amount." International car rental insurance terms.
- "The airline charged an excess baggage fee because my suitcase weighed more than the allowed limit." A warning about luggage limits.
Memory hook
Excess is when you 'exceed' the limit. Excess = Exceeds the limit.
When not to use
Do not confuse 'excess' with 'access' (the ability to enter or use something).
Fun facts
- In the insurance world, you can buy 'excess reduction' insurance, which is essentially insurance on your insurance, designed to lower your out-of-pocket risk to zero.
Related words
Explore more words
deductible, overweight, surplus, superfluous, premium, deficit
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