What does "overprint" mean?
The addition of new text on a previously printed stamp, usually to add a surcharge or change the face value.
Overprint
/ˈəʊvə(ɹ)ˌpɹɪnt/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The addition of new text on a previously printed stamp, usually to add a surcharge or change the face value.
- Grammar: overprint is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: surprint, bring out, engrave, get out.
- Useful contrasts: erase, omit, remove.
- Usage evidence: Although we do not exclude that some of the observed Moodies laminae were originally microbial mats, the mineral assemblage of the studied anastomosing and wavy laminae (i.e., mainly sericite associated with Ti oxide and rare carbonaceous material) shows a substantial metamorphic overprint, implying that similar laminae cannot be unambiguously associated with the concept of a flourishing Paleoarchean microbial life at 3.22 Ga.
How to use "overprint"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "overprint" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "overprint" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "overprint" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "overprint" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "overprint" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "surprint" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "overprint", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The addition of new text on a previously printed stamp, usually to add a surcharge or change the face value.
- 2 something added by overprinting wordnet
- 3 The set of petrological, structural, and/or mineralogical characteristics superimposed onto rock by the action of geological processes over deep time, by analogy with the original sense of the word.
"Although we do not exclude that some of the observed Moodies laminae were originally microbial mats, the mineral assemblage of the studied anastomosing and wavy laminae (i.e., mainly sericite associated with Ti oxide and rare carbonaceous material) shows a substantial metamorphic overprint, implying that similar laminae cannot be unambiguously associated with the concept of a flourishing Paleoarchean microbial life at 3.22 Ga."
Verb
- 1 To print over what has already been printed.
"This is the way overprinting works on the ZX Spectrum: two papers or two inks give a paper, one of each gives an ink. This has the interesting property that if you overprint with the same thing twice you get back what you started off with."
- 2 print (additional text or colors) onto an already imprinted paper wordnet
- 3 To add an overprint to (a stamp). transitive
- 4 To print too many copies of. transitive
"The unpopular comic book was overprinted, leaving many retailers with dozens of unsaleable copies."
- 5 To overlap different colours to avoid gaps.
Show 1 more definition
- 6 To superimpose a new set of petrological, structural, and/or mineralogical characteristics onto rock by the action of geological processes over deep time, by analogy with the original sense of the word.
"Furthermore, these rocks are overprinted by seafloor weathering, which provides a challenge to reconstructing serpentinization processes."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Although we do not exclude that some of the observed Moodies laminae were originally microbial mats, the mineral assemblage of the studied anastomosing and wavy laminae (i.e., mainly sericite associated with Ti oxide and rare carbonaceous material) shows a substantial metamorphic overprint, implying that similar laminae cannot be unambiguously associated with the concept of a flourishing Paleoarchean microbial life at 3.22 Ga."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "overprint"?
Common synonyms include: surprint, bring out, engrave, get out, hectograph, impress.
How do you use "overprint" in a sentence?
Although we do not exclude that some of the observed Moodies laminae were originally microbial mats, the mineral assemblage of the studied anastomosing and wavy laminae (i.e., mainly sericite associated with Ti oxide and rare carbonaceous material) shows a substantial metamorphic overprint, implying that similar laminae cannot be unambiguously associated with the concept of a flourishing Paleoarchean microbial life at 3.22 Ga.
How do you pronounce "overprint"?
Pronounced /ˈəʊvə(ɹ)ˌpɹɪnt/.
Etymology
From over- + print.