surplus

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surplus

/ˈsɝˌplʌs/ US
/ˈsɝpləs/ US
/ˈsɜːpləs/ UK

Sounds like surplice (one pronunciation)

Where it comes from

From Middle English surplus, from Middle French surplus. Compare French surplus.

noun surpluses · surplusses

countable, uncountable That which remains when use or need is satisfied, or when a limit is reached; excess; overplus; overage.
Similar: overquantity, oversum, superabundance, abundance, acrasia, acrasy, excess, fat, excessiveness, exuberance, copiousness, fecundity · Opposite: deficit, lack, shortage
countable, uncountable Specifically, an amount in the public treasury at any time greater than is required for the ordinary purposes of the government.
countable, uncountable The remainder of a fund appropriated for a particular purpose.
countable, uncountable assets left after liabilities and debts, including capital stock have been deducted.

adjective

not comparable Being or constituting a surplus; more than sufficient. surplus population
Similar: excess, offcut

verb surpluses · surplusses · surplusing · surplussing · surplused

transitive To treat as surplus to requirements; to sell off or dismiss from employment, etc. 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 […]

Translations

Every language

noun excess, overplus

Español	sobra, excedente, exceso, residuo, superávit
한국어	잉여 ing'yeo, 과잉 gwaing, 잔여 janyeo, 흑자 heukja
日本語	余り amari, 余剰 yojō
中文	過剩 /过剩 guòshèng, 多餘 /多余 duōyú, 盈餘 /盈余 yíngyú
हिन्दी	अतिरिक्त atirikt, अधिशेष adhiśeṣ
Português	excesso, excedente
Français	surplus
Deutsch	Überschuss, Rest
Italiano	surplus
Ελληνικά	πλεόνασμα pleónasma
Română	surplus
Русский	изли́шек izlíšek, избы́ток izbýtok
العربية	فَائِض fāʔiḍ
עברית	עודף, עֹדֶף 'ódef

noun funds in public treasury greater than ordinary needs

Español	superávit
日本語	剰余金 jōyokin
हिन्दी	अधिशेष adhiśeṣ
Português	excedente, superávit
Français	excédentaire
Ελληνικά	πλεόνασμα pleónasma, περίσσευμα períssevma
Русский	профици́т proficít

adj being a surplus

Español	sobrante, excedente, excedentario
हिन्दी	अतिरिक्त atirikt
Português	excedente
Français	excédentaire
Ελληνικά	πλεονάζων pleonázon, παραπανήσιος parapanísios
Русский	профицит proficit

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MLA

"surplus." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/surplus. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

surplus. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/surplus

Chicago

"surplus." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/surplus.

BibTeX

@misc{surplus_2026,
  title = {surplus},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/surplus},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}