surplus

surplus — noun

1. something that remains unused when people have taken or used what they need

1.nounB2
Definition

something that remains unused when people have taken or used what they need

Example

Devika donated her farm's grain surplus to local food banks after the harvest.

collocation: grain surplus

The bakery had a surplus of bread at closing time, so the owner let staff take loaves home.

pattern: a surplus of [something]

Common collocations
  • surplus of
  • grain surplus
  • food surplus
  • agricultural surplus
Synonyms
  • excess

    more general; 'excess' often suggests a negative or unwanted amount, while 'surplus' is more neutral or positive

  • extra

    informal; used for things added to a normal or expected amount, without the idea of a large quantity

  • oversupply

    focuses on market or economic situations where more is available than people want to buy

Antonyms
  • shortage

    a situation where there is not enough of something

  • lack

    a state of not having enough of something needed

Grammar Patterns

a surplus of [something]

surplus + noun (attributive)

Usage Note

Can be countable ('a surplus of oil') or uncountable ('food surplus'). The countable form with 'a … of …' is the most common pattern in everyday English.

Common Mistakes

There are surplus of apples.
There is a surplus of apples.
Surplus in this sense is singular even when followed by a plural noun describing the extra items.

2. money that is left over after all expenses have been paid, earned when income ex

2.nounB2
Definition

money that is left over after all expenses have been paid, earned when income exceeds spending

Example

The government announced a budget surplus of five billion dollars this year.

collocation: budget surplus

After paying all her bills, Sari had a small surplus in her checking account.

Common collocations
  • budget surplus
  • trade surplus
  • cash surplus
  • report a surplus
Synonyms
  • profit

    focuses on financial gain rather than leftover money; 'profit' is used for businesses, not governments

  • gain

    broader and less precise; can refer to any increase in money or advantage

Antonyms
  • deficit

    the amount by which spending exceeds income — the direct opposite in budgets and trade

  • loss

    when a company spends more than it earns from sales

  • shortfall

    a situation where the amount received is less than expected or needed

Grammar Patterns

budget / trade / cash surplus

a surplus of [amount of money]

Usage Note

Usually singular and countable. Common in news reports about government budgets, company earnings, and international trade. The opposite term is 'deficit'.

Common Mistakes

The country has a trade excess.
The country has a trade surplus.
'Excess' is not the correct term for financial and trade contexts; 'surplus' is the standard word.

surplus — adjective

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Surplus, excess, extra, surfeit, and oversupply all refer to amounts beyond what is needed, but they differ in tone and context. Surplus is the most neutral and practical term: a surplus of grain can be donated or sold — it carries no negative feeling. Excess often implies that the amount is too much and may cause problems (excess fat, excess drinking). Extra is informal and everyday: it describes something added beyond the usual number, with no sense of large quantity (an extra chair, extra time). Surfeit is formal and literary, suggesting an unpleasant overabundance, especially of something enjoyable (a surfeit of rich food). Oversupply is a narrower economic term meaning more of a product is available than people want to buy. For most general situations, surplus is the safest choice; use excess when you want to emphasise waste or harm, and extra for small, everyday additions.

excess ↗extra ↗surfeitoversupply

Common collocations

Nouns

  • food surplus
  • budget surplus
  • trade surplus
  • cash surplus
  • grain surplus

Phrases

  • surplus to requirements

Prepositions

  • surplus of
  • surplus from
  • surplus to

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Surplus comes from Middle French 'surplus', formed from 'sur-' (over, above, beyond) and 'plus' (more). The French word traces back to Latin 'super' (above) and 'plus' (more). English adopted the term in the 14th century with the general meaning of 'something left over'. By the 1600s it had taken on its financial meaning of money remaining after expenses.