cost overrun: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal; Technical (Business, Project Management, Engineering, Government)
Quick answer
What does “cost overrun” mean?
An excess of actual cost over budget.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An excess of actual cost over budget.
A situation where the final expenditure on a project, contract, or purchase significantly exceeds the planned or budgeted amount, often due to poor planning, unexpected complications, or mismanagement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or syntactic differences. Spelling remains 'overrun' in both variants.
Connotations
Identically negative in both, implying poor project management. Possibly more frequent in US corporate/government discourse.
Frequency
Common in both varieties, with a very slight edge in frequency in American English due to widespread project management terminology.
Grammar
How to Use “cost overrun” in a Sentence
The [PROJECT] experienced a [SIZE] cost overrun.A cost overrun of [PERCENTAGE/AMOUNT] was reported.to avoid/suffer/lead to a cost overrunVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cost overrun” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The new rail line's costs have significantly overrun the initial estimate.
- We must ensure the development does not overrun its allocated budget.
American English
- The stadium construction costs overran by nearly 200%.
- The software project is in danger of overrunning its budget.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports and meetings to describe failed financial targets on projects, often leading to reviews or penalties.
Academic
Common in economics, public policy, and management studies analysing project failures and public spending.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used when discussing home renovations or large personal purchases that exceeded estimates.
Technical
A key term in project management, engineering procurement, and government contracting with specific thresholds defining a reportable overrun.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cost overrun”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cost overrun”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cost overrun”
- Using 'overrun' as a verb without 'cost' (e.g., 'The project overran' is ambiguous – could mean time).
- Confusing 'cost overrun' with 'cost overdrive' (non-standard).
- Treating it as an uncountable noun (*much cost overrun*); it's usually countable (a cost overrun).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a two-word noun phrase, typically not hyphenated. In compound adjectives, a hyphen is sometimes used (e.g., cost-overrun analysis).
Yes, 'overrun' can be used intransitively (e.g., 'The project overran.') but this is ambiguous—it could refer to time or cost. For clarity, specify 'costs overran' or 'the schedule overran'.
They are largely synonymous, but 'cost overrun' is a more formal, technical term often used in official reports and project management. 'Going over budget' is more common in general speech.
No, the term inherently describes a negative outcome—a failure to control costs. A positive budget surprise would be an 'underrun' or 'cost saving'.
An excess of actual cost over budget.
Cost overrun is usually formal; technical (business, project management, engineering, government) in register.
Cost overrun: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒst ˌəʊ.və.rʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːst ˌoʊ.vɚ.rʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The project went over budget.”
- “The costs ran away with them.”
- “It blew the budget.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a building budget RUNning OVER its limits, like a river overflowing its banks – it's a COST OVERRUN.
Conceptual Metaphor
FINANCIAL CONTROL IS CONTAINMENT (The budget is a container; an overrun is a spill or breach).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate definition of 'cost overrun'?