excesses

Excesses is the plural form of excess and refers to things that go beyond what is necessary or appropriate. It can describe surplus quantities, extreme behaviors, or abuses of power, and it is used across multiple domains—economic, political, cultural, and moral—to signal departures from norms or standards.

In economics, excesses appear as excess demand or excess supply. Excess demand occurs when at a given price the quantity demanded exceeds the quantity supplied, leading to shortages and rising prices. Excess supply happens when the quantity supplied exceeds the quantity demanded, resulting in price declines or unsold stocks. Beyond price, chronic excesses in aggregate demand or credit can generate inflationary pressures or financial instability.

In social and historical discourse, excesses often denote actions that exceed accepted limits or laws, such as excesses of consumption, political repression, or violent force. Describing a period as marked by excesses is common in historiography and journalism, conveying a sense of excess relative to norms of restraint and accountability.

Etymology and related terms: Excess comes from Latin excessus, from excedere “to go out, surpass.” Related concepts include surplus, glut, overindulgence, and overreach.