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, surplused , surplussing, 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

While the specifics are unknown, most analysts estimate that the revenue loss on account of a lower GST would be offset by surplus levy collections and higher than budgeted dividends from India's central bank.

From BBC

The Liberal Democrats, Reform UK and the Greens all recorded surpluses at the end of the year.

From BBC

“SWFs have traditionally been set up by states rich in natural resources to manage their budgetary surplus, diversify their economies, and protect their wealth for future generations,” observed the Carnegie Endowment’s Feldstein and Vittori.

From Los Angeles Times

"If farmers replace rice or wheat cultivation with maize, that would be sustainable because we have enough surplus of these crops. But we need other crops like oilseeds and pulses too," Ms Natarajan said.

From BBC

According to the Aug. 1 court filing, the company routinely added a surplus charge of between $10 and $50 per machine dispatched to the three jurisdictions to be used for bribes.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• excess 
• leftover 
• unused