surplusage
noun
sur·plus·age
ˈsər-(ˌ)plə-sij 
1
2
a
: excessive or nonessential matter
b
: matter introduced in legal pleading which is not necessary or relevant to the case
Synonyms
Examples of surplusage in a Sentence
a mall with a surplusage of stores all selling the same lines of clothing
Recent Examples on the Web
In everyday speech, in legal texts and even in translations of Genesis, one person’s surplusage may be another person’s way of dealing with inevitable trade-offs between clarity and concision.
—
Sam Bray, Washington Post, 25 June 2017
Sam Bray, Washington Post, 25 June 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'surplusage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of surplusage was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near surplusage
Cite this Entry
“Surplusage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surplusage. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Legal Definition
surplusage
noun
sur·plus·age
ˈsər-ˌplə-sij
: excessive or nonessential matter
especially
: matter contained in a pleading that is unnecessary or irrelevant
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