noun
surplus
SURP-luhs
noun
1
An amount left over after what is needed has been used; an excess.
"The farm had a grain surplus after the harvest."
"The government reported a budget surplus this year."
adj
1
More than what is needed.
"They sold off surplus equipment at auction."
How to Use Surplus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExtra amount left over beyond what's needed.
Common mistake
The opposite is a "deficit" (a shortfall), not a "loss".
Easily confused with
Common pairings
budget surplus
trade surplus
surplus stock
Word Forms
surplussed past tense, surplused past tense, surpluses plural, surplusses plural, surpluses singular, surplusses singular
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The farm had a grain _____ after the harvest.
Etymology
From Middle French surplus, from sur- ("over") + plus ("more").