Overflødighed

Overflødighed is a Danish term that denotes the state or quality of being superfluous: an excess beyond what is necessary, useful, or desirable. The word is formed from the prefix over- and the noun suffix -hed, and is closely related to, but distinct from, overflod (abundance). While overflod emphasizes abundance, overflødighed focuses on the surplus that serves no essential purpose.

In everyday language, overflødighed can describe resources, objects, or actions that exceed what is required. In economics or policy discussions, it may refer to surplus goods, wasteful consumption, or unnecessary regulation. In ethics and philosophy, the concept is used to explore questions about needs versus wants, the value of restraint, and the ethical implications of accumulating more than is needed. In rhetoric, overflødighed can refer to redundancy or pleonasm, where extra words or elements do not add meaning.

The term is most often encountered in formal or analytical contexts rather than casual speech. It helps distinguish between legitimate abundance that serves a purpose and excess that does not contribute to well-being or efficiency. Related ideas include surplus, redundancy, and pleonasm, as well as larger debates about sustainability and consumption in modern societies.