adj

overqualified

Overqualified (adj) means having far more skills or qualifications than a job requires. Example: “She was told she was overqualified for the entry-level position.”

adj

Having far more skills or qualifications than a job requires.

"She was told she was overqualified for the entry-level position."

How to use overqualified

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishToo skilled or experienced for a particular role.

Common mistake

"Overqualified" often gets used as a polite excuse for not hiring someone — worth knowing it can be a euphemism.

Word forms

more overqualified comparative, most overqualified superlative

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She was told she was _____ for the entry-level position.

Etymology

Built from over- + qualified.

Rhymes for overqualified

lied pied tied fried dried tried denied allied buried varied envied untied

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Frequently asked questions

What does “overqualified” mean?

The word “overqualified” means having far more skills or qualifications than a job requires. In plain terms, too skilled or experienced for a particular role.

How do you use “overqualified” in a sentence?

Here is “overqualified” used in a sentence: “She was told she was overqualified for the entry-level position.”

What part of speech is “overqualified”?

“Overqualified” is an adjective.

What is the meaning of overqualified?

"overqualified" (adj) means having far more skills or qualifications than a job requires.