noun
surcharge
SUR-charj
Surcharge (noun) means an extra amount added to the normal price or charge, usually to cover a specific cost such as fuel, card processing or peak demand. Example: “The airline added a fuel surcharge of £40 to every long-haul ticket.”
noun
1
An extra amount added to the normal price or charge, usually to cover a specific cost such as fuel, card processing or peak demand.
"The airline added a fuel surcharge of £40 to every long-haul ticket."
"There is a small surcharge for paying by credit card."
2
specialist An overprint on a postage stamp that changes its face value.
"The 1922 issue is scarce with the original surcharge intact."
verb
1
To charge someone an extra amount on top of the standard price.
"Restaurants are allowed to surcharge on public holidays if they display a notice."
How to use surcharge
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn extra charge added on top of the normal price.
When to use it
Neutral; standard in commerce, travel and utility billing.
Memory tip
Stress moves with the part of speech: SUR-charge as a noun, sur-CHARGE as a verb.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
fuel surcharge
credit card surcharge
peak surcharge
impose a surcharge
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like surcharge.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The airline added a fuel _____ of £40 to every long-haul ticket.
Etymology
From Old French surcharger "to overload", from sur- "over" and chargier "to load".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for surcharge
See all rhymes for surcharge →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a surcharge and a fee?
A fee is a charge for a service in its own right, such as a booking fee. A surcharge is added on top of a price you are already paying, to recover a specific extra cost — fuel, card processing, weekend staffing.
Are surcharges legal?
It depends on the jurisdiction and the type. Many countries require surcharges to be disclosed up front and included in advertised prices, and some — the UK and EU, for example — ban card surcharges on consumer debit and credit payments entirely.
What is the difference between a surcharge and a tax?
A tax is imposed by government and collected on its behalf. A surcharge is set by the business or provider to cover its own costs, though the word is sometimes loosely applied to government levies added to an existing tax.
What is the meaning of surcharge?
"surcharge" (noun) means an extra amount added to the normal price or charge, usually to cover a specific cost such as fuel, card processing or peak demand.
