Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

surplus value

American  

noun

  1. (in Marxian economics) the part of the value of a commodity that exceeds the cost of labor, regarded as the profit of the capitalist.


Etymology

Origin of surplus value

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There was just one problem with Minnesota’s plan: the potential surplus value offered by McCarthy’s contract has been rendered obsolete by the fact he has been completely terrible.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 1, 2025

With the rookie wage scale slotting salaries by pick regardless of position, it is more difficult for teams to generate surplus value by taking a tight end.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 19, 2024

Marx proposed the concept of surplus value as a contradictory force within capitalism.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

Roullier has already produced 15 points of approximate value in his first three years with Washington, a huge surplus value for a sixth-round pick.

From Washington Post • Apr. 20, 2020

It has been said already that capital is that portion of wealth which is devoted to the object of increasing wealth, of gain, the extraction of profit or surplus value.

From The life and teaching of Karl Marx by Beer, M.