# excess

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɛksɛs/ · frequency rank #5,035

## Definitions
1. The state of surpassing or going beyond a limit; the state of being beyond sufficiency, necessity, or duty; more than what is usual or proper.
2. The degree or amount by which one thing or number exceeds another; remainder.
3. An act of eating or drinking more than enough.
4. Spherical excess, the amount by which the sum of the three angles of a spherical triangle exceeds two right angles. The spherical excess is proportional to the area of the triangle.
5. A condition on an insurance policy by which the insured pays for a part of the claim.

## Etymology
From Middle English exces (“excess, ecstasy”), from Old French exces, from Latin excessus (“a going out, loss of self-possession”), from excedere, excessum (“to go out, go beyond”). See exceed.

## Easily confused with
- **exes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/excess-vs-exes)
- **excuse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/excess-vs-excuse)
- **excise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/excess-vs-excise)
- **express** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/excess-vs-express)
- **excel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/excel-vs-excess)
- **except** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/except-vs-excess)
- **exceed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/exceed-vs-excess)
- **egress** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/egress-vs-excess)

## Common misspellings (7)
`ecxess`, `exccess`, `exces`, `excses`, `execss`, `exxcess`, `xecess`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/excess