excessive Definition

excess
noun excesses

1. The act of going, or the state of being, beyond normal or suitable limits.

Thesaurus: intemperance, indulgence, prodigality, dissipation.
2. An amount or extent greater than is usual, necessary or wise.

Thesaurus: abundance, plethora, surplus, superfluity, surfeit, profusion, inundation, lavishness; Antonym: deficiency, lack.
3. The amount by which one quantity, etc exceeds another; an amount left over.

Thesaurus: remainder, rest, surplus, balance, residue, waste, leftovers, leavings.
4. An outrageous or offensive act.

Form: excesses (usually)

adj

1. Greater than is usual, necessary or permitted.
2. Additional; required to make up for an amount lacking.

Example: excess postage
Example: excess fare
Thesaurus: extra, superfluous, surplus, additional, spare, residual, remaining, leftover.

Derivative: excessive
adj

Too great; beyond what is usual, right or appropriate.
Thesaurus: inordinate, immoderate, extreme, exorbitant, disproportionate, overmuch, intemperate, superfluous.

Derivative: excessively
adverb

To an excessive degree.

Idiom: in excess of something

Going beyond (a specified amount); more than it.
Example: in excess of 5 million

Etymology: 14c: from French exces, from Latin excessus departure or going beyond.

Info:

A word often confused with this one is access.