surplus
gb/sˈɚpləs/ us/sˈɚpləs/
B2
English
~ 7800
többlet, felesleg, költségvetési többlet, külkereskedelmi többlet, felesleges, feleslegessé vált áru, feleslegessé vált eszköz, hadifelesleg
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
a surplus of [something]
The company reported a surplus of $2 million at the end of the year.
A vállalat az év végén 2 millió dolláros többletről számolt be.
After everyone had eaten, there was still a huge surplus of food on the table.
Miután mindenki evett, még mindig hatalmas mennyiségű étel maradt az asztalon.
We have a surplus of volunteers for this event, so some people may not be needed.
The project finished under budget, leaving a small cash surplus.
Farmers faced a surplus of grain after an unusually good harvest.
Learner examples
We had a surplus of food after the party.
A buli után ételfeleslegünk maradt.
This month the shop made a surplus of money.
Ebben a hónapban a bolt többletet termelt.
There is a surplus of workers in this town.
The farm has a surplus of eggs in the summer.
The school sold the surplus books at a low price.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "surplus" when they only mean "a lot". "Surplus" is used when there is MORE than is needed or wanted, not just a large amount. Another mistake is using it before a noun like an adjective in all cases (e.g., *"a surplus water"*); in most everyday cases you should say "a surplus of water".
Meaning
extra amount beyond what is needed
Collocations
a surplus of
|large surplus
|create a surplus
|cash surplus
|food surplus
|trade surplus
Synonyms
excess (Very close in meaning; slightly more common in everyday speech and can sound a bit more informal in some contexts.)
|
extra (More informal and general; does not always carry the idea of a measurable amount left over after needs are met.)
Antonyms
shortage (Emphasizes not having enough of something, the direct opposite of having a surplus.)
|
deficit (Used especially with money or resources when there is less than is needed, opposing the idea of a surplus.)
Themes
daily life
|business
|economics
|core_vocabulary
Definition
An extra amount of something that is not needed because you already have enough.
An amount that is more than is needed or used, remaining after all necessary needs or demands have been met.
NOUN
C1
2
Usage pattern:
a budget surplus of [amount]
The government announced a budget surplus for the first time in ten years.
A kormány tíz év után először jelentett be költségvetési többletet.
Thanks to higher tax revenues, the city ended the year with a small surplus.
A magasabb adóbevételeknek köszönhetően a város kis többlettel zárta az évet.
The charity aims to spend any surplus on community projects.
If the company continues to cut costs, it could generate a significant surplus next quarter.
Voters were pleased to hear that the state had turned its deficit into a surplus.
Learner examples
Our country has a budget surplus this year.
Országunknak idén költségvetési többlete van.
The city used its surplus to fix the roads.
A város az utak javítására használta fel a költségvetési többletét.
Because of good sales, the company made a surplus.
The school spent the surplus on new computers.
Last year there was a deficit, but this year there is a surplus.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "surplus" with "profit". A profit is usually money earned by a business after costs, while a "budget surplus" is often used for governments or organizations to mean income is higher than spending in a period. Also, you say "a budget surplus", not *"a surplus budget"* when talking about this specific financial result.
Meaning
extra government or budget money
Collocations
budget surplus
|fiscal surplus
|run a surplus
|record surplus
|budget deficit and surplus
Synonyms
balance (In phrases like "positive balance" or "budgetary balance"; more general and does not always mean income is clearly higher than spending.)
|
profit (Used mainly for businesses; focuses on money earned after costs, while "surplus" is often used for governments or non‑profits and for budgets.)
Antonyms
budget deficit (Specifically refers to spending being higher than income in a budget, the opposite of a budget surplus.)
|
shortfall (General term for not having enough money to meet needs or targets, opposing a surplus of funds.)
Themes
economics
|business
|politics
|finance
Definition
Money left over when a government, company, or person gets more money than they spend in a certain time.
The amount by which income or revenue is greater than spending in a particular budget period, especially for a government or organization.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
a trade surplus of [amount]
China recorded a large trade surplus with the United States last year.
Kína tavaly jelentős külkereskedelmi többletet ért el az Egyesült Államokkal szemben.
The country relies on its trade surplus to support the value of its currency.
Az ország a külkereskedelmi többletére támaszkodik, hogy fenntartsa valutája értékét.
A growing trade surplus can lead to political tensions with trading partners.
After years of deficits, the nation finally achieved a modest trade surplus.
The report shows a widening trade surplus driven by strong car exports.
Learner examples
The country has a big trade surplus with its neighbors.
Az országnak nagy külkereskedelmi többlete van a szomszédaival szemben.
Germany often has a trade surplus because it exports many cars.
Németországnak gyakran van külkereskedelmi többlete, mert sok autót exportál.
A trade surplus means exports are higher than imports.
Last year the trade deficit changed into a trade surplus.
The government is happy about the new trade surplus.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse a "trade surplus" with a "budget surplus". A trade surplus is about exports and imports between countries, while a budget surplus is about income and spending inside a government or organization.
Meaning
more exports than imports
Collocations
trade surplus
|current account surplus
|huge trade surplus
|post a surplus
|surplus on the trade balance
Synonyms
positive trade balance (More formal and technical; explicitly refers to the trade balance being above zero rather than using the noun "surplus".)
Antonyms
trade deficit (The direct opposite situation where imports are greater than exports.)
Themes
economics
|trade
|finance
|business
Definition
When a country sells more goods and services to other countries than it buys from them, measured in money.
The amount by which the value of a country's exports is greater than the value of its imports over a particular period.
B2
4
felesleges
B1
Usage pattern:
surplus [noun]
The warehouse is full of surplus stock from last season.
A raktár tele van az előző szezonból megmaradt többletkészlettel.
We need to cut surplus staff to reduce costs.
A költségek csökkentése érdekében le kell építenünk a felesleges munkaerőt.
Any surplus funds will be invested in new equipment.
The company sold its surplus vehicles at auction.
The charity collects surplus food from supermarkets and gives it to people in need.
Learner examples
The store is selling surplus clothes very cheaply.
Az üzlet nagyon olcsón árulja a felesleges ruhákat.
We have surplus chairs, so you can take one home.
Van néhány felesleges székünk, úgyhogy hazavihetsz egyet.
The company has surplus cash this year.
The army sold its surplus equipment.
They gave the surplus food to a local shelter.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes put "surplus" after the noun, as in *"the chairs surplus"*. As an adjective, it normally comes before the noun: "surplus chairs". Also, do not use it before every noun meaning "many"; it specifically means "more than needed".
Meaning
extra; more than needed
Collocations
surplus stock
|surplus cash
|surplus staff
|surplus food
|surplus capacity
|surplus equipment
Synonyms
excess (Very close in meaning; often slightly more formal and can sound more negative when describing something unwanted.)
|
extra (More informal and very common; may not always suggest that something is actually not needed, just that there is more.)
Antonyms
necessary (Indicates something that is needed, opposite of surplus items which are not required.)
|
insufficient (States that there is not enough of something, the opposite quantity situation to having surplus.)
Themes
daily life
|business
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Extra and not needed, because there is already enough.
More than is needed or wanted; extra or not required.
NOUN
B2
5
Usage pattern:
surplus [goods/equipment/items]
The government auctioned off surplus military vehicles.
A kormány elárverezte a feleslegessé vált katonai járműveket.
A new store opened downtown selling army surplus clothing.
Új üzlet nyílt a belvárosban, ahol hadifeleslegből származó ruházatot árulnak.
The company donates its surplus computers to local schools.
They bought surplus office furniture at a discount.
The charity relies on surplus goods from supermarkets.
Learner examples
The army sold its surplus uniforms.
A hadsereg eladta a feleslegessé vált egyenruháit.
We bought cheap chairs from a surplus store.
Olcsó székeket vettünk egy olyan boltban, ahol feleslegessé vált árukat árulnak.
The school got surplus computers from a big company.
The shop sells surplus food that supermarkets do not want.
He works at a store that sells army surplus.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with the general money or amount sense and say things like *"a surplus of army"* instead of "army surplus" for goods. When you mean physical items that are not needed, use phrases like "army surplus" or "surplus equipment".
Meaning
unneeded goods or equipment
Collocations
army surplus
|military surplus
|sell surplus
|surplus goods
|government surplus
Synonyms
leftovers (More informal and general; often used for food and not as common for equipment or official goods.)
|
excess inventory (Business term focusing on unsold stock rather than all kinds of unneeded items.)
Antonyms
essential equipment (Refers to items that are still needed, the opposite of surplus equipment that is no longer required.)
Themes
business
|military
|work
Definition
Things, like goods or equipment, that an organization does not need anymore and usually sells or gives away.
Goods, equipment, or other tangible items that are no longer needed and are usually sold off, given away, or destroyed.
Grammar
Dictionary form
surplus
IPA
GB/sˈɚpləs/
US/sˈɚpləs/
Syllables & stress
sur - plus (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sur)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: surplus
- Plural: surpluses
Word family
Expressions
budget surplus
1/bˈʌd͡ʒɪt sˈɚpləs/
fixed phrase
more income than spending in budget
A situation where a government or organization gets more money than it spends in a planned period.
Examples
- The finance minister was proud to announce a budget surplus for the second year in a row.
- The city used its budget surplus to improve public transport.
- After years of cuts, the small budget surplus came as a surprise.
run a surplus
1/ɹˈʌn ə sˈɚpləs/
fixed phrase
have more income than spending
To have more money coming in than going out over a period of time, especially in a budget.
Examples
- The government aims to run a surplus within five years.
- Most non‑profit organizations try not to run a large surplus.
- If we cut unnecessary costs, we might run a surplus next quarter.
surplus to requirements
1/sˈɚpləs tə ɹɪkwˈaɪɹmənts/
idiom
no longer needed or wanted
Not needed because there are too many people or things for the job or purpose.
Examples
- After the reorganization, several managers were declared surplus to requirements.
- The old printers are now surplus to requirements and will be sold off.
- He suddenly found himself surplus to requirements after the new software was introduced.
trade surplus
1/tɹˈeɪd sˈɚpləs/
fixed phrase
technical
exports greater than imports
A situation where a country sells more goods and services to other countries than it buys from them.
Examples
- The country’s large trade surplus has become a source of tension with its trading partners.
- Rising car exports helped the nation maintain a healthy trade surplus.
- Economists expect the trade surplus to shrink as imports grow.