surplus — English Dictionary

Noun

1. That which remains when use or need is satisfied, or when a limit is reached; excess; overplus; overage.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   overquantityoversumsuperabundance

   Antonyms

   deficitlackshortage

2. Specifically, an amount in the public treasury at any time greater than is required for the ordinary purposes of the government.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

3. The remainder of a fund appropriated for a particular purpose.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

4. assets left after liabilities and debts, including capital stock have been deducted.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Adjective

1. Being or constituting a surplus; more than sufficient.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Synonyms

   excessoffcut

   Examples

   surplus population

   surplus words

   More examples (3)

   The latest shipment of goods is surplus to our needs.

   But to return to where we left her, I see her still, propped up in a kind of stupor against one of the walls in which this wretched edifice abounds, her long grey greasy hair framing in its cowl of scrofulous mats a face where pallor, languor, hunger, acne, recent dirt, immemorial chagrin and surplus hair seemed to dispute the mastery.

   An artificial kidney these days still means a refrigerator-sized dialysis machine. Such devices mimic the way real kidneys cleanse blood and eject impurities and surplus water as urine.

Verb

1. To treat as surplus to requirements; to sell off or dismiss from employment, etc.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   This employee was engaged to direct asphalt plants and inasmuch as the work for which he had been employed was completed, he was surplused and his return travel was approved […]

Adjective

1. more than is needed, desired, or required

   Synonyms

   excessextraredundantsparesupererogatorysuperfluoussupernumerary

   Examples

   trying to lose excess weight

   found some extra change lying on the dresser

   More examples (8)

   yet another book on heraldry might be thought redundant

   skills made redundant by technological advance

   sleeping in the spare room

   supernumerary ornamentation

   it was supererogatory of her to gloat

   delete superfluous (or unnecessary) words

   extra ribs as well as other supernumerary internal parts

   surplus cheese distributed to the needy

Noun

1. a quantity much larger than is needed

   Synonyms

   excesssurplusagenimiety

   Broader terms

   overabundanceovermuchovermuchnesssuperabundance