something that remains above what is used or needed.
an amount, quantity, etc., greater than needed.
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.
Accounting.
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.
an amount of assets in excess of what is requisite to meet liabilities.
adjective
being a surplus; being in excess of what is required: surplus wheat.
verb (used with object),sur·plussed or sur·plused,sur·plus·sing or sur·plus·ing.
to treat as surplus; sell off; retire: The government surplussed some of its desert lands.
Origin of surplus
1325–75;Middle English (noun) < Old French < Medieval Latinsuperplus, equivalent to super-super- + plusplus
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. (Compareshortage.)
