surplus

1 of 2

noun

sur·​plus ˈsər-(ˌ)pləs 

1

a

: the amount that remains when use or need is satisfied

b

: an excess of receipts over disbursements

2

: the excess of a corporation's net worth over the par or stated value of its stock

surplus

2 of 2

adjective

: more than the amount that is needed : constituting a surplus

surplus food/clothing/equipment

When the sea captains returned, they would sell their surplus wares on the wharves.

—Carol Vogel

Long before the comparable worth battles of today, the economic value of women's work was evident to farm women who set prices for the surplus butter, candles, soap, honey, preserves, chickens, and eggs they raised or manufactured.

—Mary Kay Blakely

Synonyms of surplus

Noun

• excess
• overflow

Adjective

• excess
• extra
• spare

Examples of surplus in a Sentence

Noun

If there is any surplus, it will be divided equally.

There is a surplus of workers and not enough jobs.

Adjective

surplus stock gets shipped to the warehouse and is eventually sold at auction

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Throughout the postseason, Los Angeles turned to Rōki Sasaki as its closer and utilized its surplus of talented starters, but could bring in a new closer this winter with Sasaki set to return to the starting rotation next season. —Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025

The Red Sox have a surplus of outfielders with Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony and Ceddanne Rafela on the roster. —Kansas City Star, 27 Nov. 2025

Adjective

Charlie Diggs has spent his career eliminating the hazardous remnants of conflict — unused, unstable, aging, and surplus munitions. —Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 28 Nov. 2025

There were 10 old rodent droppings on top of the surplus rack of glassware, the containers of powder cleaner and top of a pot lid. —Sacbee.com, 27 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin superplus, from Latin super- + plus more — more at plus

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1589, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing surplus

• budget surplus
• surplus to requirements
• surplus value
• trade surplus

Rhymes for surplus

• surplice

Kids Definition

surplus

noun

sur·​plus ˈsər-(ˌ)pləs 

1

: the amount more than what is required or necessary : excess

2

: an excess of income over spending

surplus adjective

Legal Definition

surplus

noun

sur·​plus ˈsər-ˌpləs 

1

a

: an amount that remains when a use or need is satisfied

b

: an excess of receipts over disbursements

c

: the value of assets after subtracting liabilities

2

: an excess of the net worth of a corporation over the par value of its capital stock compare undivided profits

— capital surplus

: all surplus other than earned surplus

— earned surplus

: the surplus that remains after deducting losses, distributions to stockholders, and transfers to capital stock accounts

— paid-in surplus

: surplus resulting from the sale of stock at amounts above par