surplus

Everyday

1. A surplus is an amount that is more than what is needed, an extra amount left over. tree →
2. Surplus means extra, not needed: «surplus food». tree →
3. A budget surplus is when more money comes in than goes out. tree →

In the lessons

the extra left after needs are met: surplus = what there is − what is needed; in geography and history: farms with a surplus of food can sell or trade it; in everyday life: give surplus food to a food bank; in money: a surplus is money left after paying for everything

Examples

• The farm grew 500 kg of wheat and needed 350 kg, so there is a surplus. tree →
• What is the surplus if 40 chairs are needed and there are 52? tree →
• The shop sold its surplus apples cheaply. tree →
• The surplus was 30 litres. tree →
• The school gave its surplus books to a library. tree →
• A surplus of rain made the crops grow well. tree →
• The club had a surplus of 20 dollars after the trip. tree →
• Farmers traded their surplus grain for tools. tree →

Note

Points to a difference: surplus = have − need (52 − 40 = 12). The opposite of shortage. Trap: if the need is bigger there is no surplus but a shortage. Pronounced «SUR-plus».