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

Brazil is facing American tariffs of 50%, even though the U.S. has a trade surplus with the country.

Read more on MarketWatch

Beijing's large trade surpluses have drawn sharp criticism from some trading partners, who say markets have been flooded with cheap goods, hurting local firms.

Read more on Barron's

Milei slashed government spending and generated the first fiscal surplus in 16 years.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The International Energy Agency projects an oil surplus of nearly four million barrels a day by 2026, escalating the current oversupply of 1.9 million barrels a day.

Read more on Barron's

But New Mexico, unlike New York City, has a dedicated funding stream for its child care program created from surplus oil and gas revenues and federal mineral leasing.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• excess 
• leftover 
• unused