surplus

Pluralsurpluses, surplusses

Formssurpluses, surplusing, surplused

1. 1
   nouncountable

   The amount left over after you have used all you need.

   Like having extra food left over after everyone has eaten.

   After a good harvest, the farmers had a surplus they could sell at market.

   The factory produced a surplus of parts, so it cut back production.

   Similarexcess, overage, abundance, glut, plenty

   Oppositeshortage, deficit, lack

   Note
2. 2
   adjective

   Extra, or more than is needed or used.

   Like extra chairs you set out but nobody sits in.

   The army sold off its surplus equipment after the war.

   They donated surplus food to the local shelter.

   Similarexcess

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable

   Money the government has left after paying for everything it needs.

   Like the money left in your account after you have paid every bill.

   The government ended the year with a budget surplus.

   When taxes bring in more than the state spends, it has a surplus.

   Similarexcess

   Oppositedeficit, shortfall

4. 4
   nouncountable

   The money or property a company has left after paying all it owes.

   Like the money a small business keeps after settling everything it owes.

   After paying its debts, the firm still had a surplus on its books.

   The company's surplus grew once its loans were repaid.

   Oppositedeficit

   Note
5. 5
   nouncountable

   The money left over from an amount set aside for a special use.

   Like the money left in a jar you filled for one trip after the trip is done.

   The charity had a surplus after the building project was finished.

   There was a surplus once all the grant money had been spent.

   Similarremainder, balance, excess

   Oppositeshortfall, deficit

   Note
6. 6
   verbtransitive

   To get rid of things or workers that are no longer needed, by selling them or letting them go.

   The school had to surplus its old desks.

   Many workers were surplused when the office moved to another city.

   Similarretire, dismiss, discard

   Oppositeretain

   Note

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