Overallocate

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To distribute resources in a manner that surpasses optimal levels or requirements for a task
2. To assign an excessive amount of assets or effort beyond what can be effectively utilized in a given project
3. To allocate more resources or funds to a task than it can effectively use

Etymology: "Overallocate" is simply the prefix "over-", meaning "too much" or "excessively," attached to "allocate," a verb that comes from Latin "allocare," meaning "to place or assign to a particular spot or purpose." "Allocare" combines "ad-" ("to") with "locare" ("to place"), the same root that gives English "locate" and "locus." So "allocate" literally means to set something in its place for a purpose. Put together, "overallocate" means to assign more money, time, staff, or other resources to a task than it can actually make use of. The sense is practical and bureaucratic: a project given a budget it cannot spend well, or a server given more memory than its workload requires. The word is a plain formation of two existing English parts, with no single coiner or famous first use to mark its origin.

Synonyms: overassign, overcommit

Antonyms: underallocate, underassign