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
: 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
Carol VogelLong 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
Mary Kay BlakelySynonyms
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
Eleanor McCrary, The Courier-Journal, 18 Nov. 2024
The budget contained £40 billion ($52 billion) worth of tax rises to plug a hole in the public finances — with Reeves committing to move toward a day-to-day spending surplus — and to allow for greater investment in public services.
—Jenni Reid, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2024
Adriana Morga and Cora Lewis, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Nov. 2024
For the past two years, thanks to surplus funds, her school district has been providing free school lunches which has changed the equation, but Roa said that could end at any point.
—CBS News, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for surplus 
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Noun
The surplus is from the last fiscal year, which ended in June.
—Eleanor McCrary, The Courier-Journal, 18 Nov. 2024
The budget contained £40 billion ($52 billion) worth of tax rises to plug a hole in the public finances — with Reeves committing to move toward a day-to-day spending surplus — and to allow for greater investment in public services.
—Jenni Reid, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
For the past two years, thanks to surplus funds, her school district has been providing free school lunches which has changed the equation, but Ms. Roa said that could end at any point.
—Adriana Morga and Cora Lewis, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Nov. 2024
For the past two years, thanks to surplus funds, her school district has been providing free school lunches which has changed the equation, but Roa said that could end at any point.
—CBS News, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for surplus
Dictionary Entries Near surplus
Cite this Entry
“Surplus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surplus. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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