surplus

[ sur-pluhs, -pluhs ]

noun

1. something that remains above what is used or needed.

   Synonyms: superabundance

2. an amount, quantity, etc., greater than needed.
3. agricultural produce or a quantity of food grown by a nation or area in excess of its needs, especially such a quantity of food purchased and stored by a governmental program of guaranteeing farmers a specific price for certain crops.
4. Accounting.
   1. the excess of assets over liabilities accumulated throughout the existence of a business, excepting assets against which stock certificates have been issued; excess of net worth over capital-stock value.
   2. an amount of assets in excess of what is requisite to meet liabilities.

adjective

1. being a surplus; being in excess of what is required:

   surplus wheat.

verb (used with object)

surplussed or surplusedsurplussing or surplusing

1. to treat as surplus; sell off; retire:

   The government surplussed some of its desert lands.

surplus

/ ˈsɜːpləs /

noun

1. a quantity or amount in excess of what is required
2. accounting
   1. an excess of total assets over total liabilities
   2. an excess of actual net assets over the nominal value of capital stock
   3. an excess of revenues over expenditures during a certain period of time
3. economics
   1. an excess of government revenues over expenditures during a certain financial year
   2. an excess of receipts over payments on the balance of payments

adjective

1. being in excess; extra

surplus

1. An unsold quantity of a good resulting from a lack of equilibrium in a market. For example, if a price is artificially high, sellers will bring more goods to the market than buyers will be willing to buy. ( Compare shortage .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of surplus¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Old French surplus, s(o)urplus, from Medieval Latin superplūs, equivalent to super- preposition and prefix + plūs neuter noun; super-, plus

Word History and Origins

Origin of surplus¹

C14: from Old French, from Medieval Latin superplūs, from Latin super- + plūs more

Synonym Study

See remainder.

Example Sentences

He said baby boomers, now in their late 70s, will soon put millions of homes on the market, creating a surplus and a cratering of home values.

From Salon

The party's finances have been improving recently and its most recent accounts showed it was in surplus.

From BBC

King Charles III is to mark his 76th birthday by opening two hubs that will distribute large volumes of surplus food to food banks, schools and community centres.

From BBC

The Department of Health and Social Care says, currently, there is little incentive for trusts to run budget surpluses, from which they are unable to benefit - but that will now change.

From BBC

The newlyweds moved into the park, making do in a shipping container that housed a bathroom and two military surplus cots.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• balance