Surplus vs. Surfeit — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 5, 2024
Surplus refers to an excess amount beyond what is needed, often positive, while surfeit implies an overabundance to the point of disgust or harm.
Difference Between Surplus and Surfeit
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Surplus is a term commonly used in economics and inventory management to describe a situation where the quantity of a product or resource exceeds the demand or need for it. This excess can be beneficial, indicating efficient production or providing a buffer for future shortfalls. On the other hand, surfeit refers to an excessive amount of something, typically to the point where it becomes undesirable or harmful. It often carries a negative connotation, suggesting that the abundance might lead to waste or adverse effects.
While surplus can apply to a broad range of contexts, including financial surplus where revenues exceed expenses, or a surplus of goods in a warehouse, surfeit usually refers to an excessive amount of consumable items, like food or drink, leading to negative outcomes like sickness or waste. Surfeit emphasizes the negative impacts of having more than what is healthy or reasonable.
The concept of surplus is often seen positively, as it indicates preparedness and abundance, allowing for future planning and security. Contrarily, surfeit conveys a lack of moderation or control, often resulting in waste or health issues due to overindulgence.
In decision-making and planning, managing a surplus involves strategic considerations about allocation, storage, or redistribution to maximize benefits. Dealing with a surfeit, however, focuses on mitigating negative effects, such as finding ways to reduce or eliminate the excess that leads to problems.
The term "surplus" suggests efficiency and potential for growth, reflecting a balance that favors production and accumulation. Surfeit, by comparison, implies an imbalance detrimental to well-being or efficiency, highlighting the consequences of excess beyond utility or enjoyment.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Excess amount beyond what is needed, often seen positively.
Overabundance to the point of negative consequences.
Connotation
Positive, indicating efficiency and preparedness.
Negative, associated with waste or harm.
Common Contexts
Economics, inventory management, financial planning.
Consumption, particularly food and drink.
Implications
Indicates potential for future use or security.
Suggests lack of moderation and potential for adverse effects.
Management
Focuses on allocation and strategic use.
Involves reducing or mitigating excess to prevent problems.
Compare with Definitions
Surplus
Indicates efficiency and successful management.
Our surplus inventory shows efficient production planning.
Surfeit
Implies a negative outcome from too much of a good thing.
A surfeit of leisure time sometimes leads to boredom.
Surplus
Financial excess, where income exceeds expenditures.
The budget ended with a surplus, allowing for additional investments.
Surfeit
An excessive amount of something, usually leading to undesirable effects.
The feast resulted in a surfeit of food, much of which was wasted.
Surplus
An excess of resources or goods beyond what is necessary.
The factory produced a surplus of goods this quarter.
Surfeit
Focuses on consumables and personal experiences more than economic terms.
There was a surfeit of advice, but little of it was useful.
Surplus
Applies to a variety of contexts, from economics to resource management.
The energy surplus this year will lower utility costs.
Surfeit
Associated with lack of restraint or moderation.
The market experienced a surfeit of products, causing prices to plummet.
Surplus
A beneficial excess, providing a buffer against future shortages.
The agricultural surplus helped the country during the drought.
Surfeit
Overindulgence in food or drink, causing discomfort or illness.
The holiday celebrations often lead to a surfeit of eating and drinking.
Surplus
An amount of something left over when requirements have been met; an excess of production or supply
Exports of food surpluses
Surfeit
Surfeit is a human gene cluster that consists of a group of very tightly linked genes on chromosome 9 that do not share sequence similarity. Genes in this cluster are numbered 1 through 6: SURF1, SURF2, SURF3, SURF4, SURF5, and SURF6.
Surplus
More than what is needed or used; excess
Make the most of your surplus cash
The firm told 284 employees that they were surplus to requirements
Surfeit
An excessive amount of something
A surfeit of food and drink
Surplus
Being more than or in excess of what is needed or required
Surplus grain.
Surfeit
Cause (someone) to desire no more of something as a result of having consumed or done it to excess
I am surfeited with shopping
Surplus
An amount or quantity in excess of what is needed.
Surfeit
To feed or supply to excess, satiety, or disgust.
Surplus
Total assets minus the sum of all liabilities.
Surfeit
To overindulge.
Surplus
Excess of a corporation's net assets over the face value of its capital stock.
Surfeit
Overindulgence in food or drink.
Surplus
Excess of receipts over expenditures.
Surfeit
The result of such overindulgence; satiety or disgust.
Surplus
That which remains when use or need is satisfied, or when a limit is reached; excess; overplus.
Surfeit
An excessive amount.
Surplus
Specifically, an amount in the public treasury at any time greater than is required for the ordinary purposes of the government.
Surfeit
(countable) An excessive amount of something.
A surfeit of wheat is driving down the price.
Surplus
(legal) The remainder of a fund appropriated for a particular purpose.
Surfeit
(uncountable) Overindulgence in either food or drink; overeating.
Surplus
(legal) assets left after liabilities and debts, including capital stock have been deducted.
Surfeit
(countable) A sickness or condition caused by overindulgence.
King Henry I is said to have died of a surfeit of lampreys.
Surplus
Being or constituting a surplus; more than sufficient.
Surplus population
Surplus words
The latest shipment of goods is surplus to our needs.
Surfeit
Disgust caused by excess; satiety.
Surplus
(transitive) To treat as surplus to requirements; to sell off or dismiss from employment, etc.
Surfeit
(countable) A group of skunks.
Surplus
That which remains when use or need is satisfied, or when a limit is reached; excess; overplus.
Surfeit
(transitive) To fill (something) to excess.
Surplus
Specifically, an amount in the public treasury at any time greater than is required for the ordinary purposes of the government.
Surfeit
(transitive) To feed (someone) to excess (on, upon or with something).
She surfeited her children on sweets.
Surplus
Being or constituting a surplus; more than sufficient; as, surplus revenues; surplus population; surplus words.
When the price of corn falleth, men give over surplus tillage, and break no more ground.
Surfeit
(transitive) To make (someone) sick as a result of overconsumption.
Surplus
A quantity much larger than is needed
Surfeit
To supply (someone) with something to excess; to disgust (someone) through overabundance.
Surplus
More than is needed, desired, or required;
Trying to lose excess weight
Found some extra change lying on the dresser
Yet another book on heraldry might be thought redundant
Skills made redundant by technological advance
Sleeping in the spare room
Supernumerary ornamentation
It was supererogatory of her to gloat
Delete superfluous (or unnecessary) words
Extra ribs as well as other supernumerary internal parts
Surplus cheese distributed to the needy
Surfeit
(transitive) To satisfy (someone's appetite) to excess (both literally and figuratively).
Surfeit
To overeat or feed to excess (on or upon something).
Surfeit
To indulge (in something) to excess.
Surfeit
To become sick from overindulgence (both literally and figuratively).
Surfeit
Excess in eating and drinking.
Let not Sir Surfeit sit at thy board.
Now comes the sick hour that his surfeit made.
Surfeit
Fullness and oppression of the system, occasioned often by excessive eating and drinking.
To prevent surfeit and other diseases that are incident to those that heat their blood by travels.
Surfeit
Disgust caused by excess; satiety.
Matter and argument have been supplied abundantly, and even to surfeit.
Surfeit
To load the stomach with food, so that sickness or uneasiness ensues; to eat to excess.
They are as sick that surfeit with too much as they that starve with nothing.
Surfeit
To indulge to satiety in any gratification.
Surfeit
To feed so as to oppress the stomach and derange the function of the system; to overfeed, and produce satiety, sickness, or uneasiness; - often reflexive; as, to surfeit one's self with sweets.
Surfeit
To fill to satiety and disgust; to cloy; as, he surfeits us with compliments.
Surfeit
The state of being more than full
Surfeit
The quality of being so overabundant that prices fall
Surfeit
Eating until excessively full
Surfeit
Supply or feed to surfeit
Surfeit
Indulge (one's appetite) to satiety
Common Curiosities
Can surplus ever be negative?
While typically positive, a surplus can become negative if it leads to inefficiencies or unnecessary costs over time.
Is surfeit always related to food and drink?
While often associated with food and drink, surfeit can apply to any excess that leads to negative consequences, including non-consumable items.
How can a surplus be managed effectively?
Effective management involves strategic planning for the use, distribution, or investment of surplus resources to ensure optimal benefits.
Why is surfeit considered harmful?
Surfeit implies overindulgence or excessive amounts that result in waste, discomfort, or other adverse effects.
Is it possible to convert a surfeit into a surplus?
Converting a surfeit into a surplus involves finding ways to use the excess constructively before it leads to negative outcomes.
What differentiates surplus from surfeit?
Surplus is a beneficial excess, while surfeit is an overabundance that leads to negative outcomes.
What happens when a surplus turns into a surfeit?
A surplus becomes a surfeit when the excess quantity leads to problems or negative outcomes, such as waste or decreased value.
Can a business have both a surplus and a surfeit?
Yes, a business might have a surplus in one area (e.g., funds) while experiencing a surfeit in another (e.g., unsold stock).
How does society benefit from a surplus?
Societal benefits include increased security, potential for economic growth, and the ability to support others during shortages.
What are the consequences of a surfeit in personal habits?
Personal consequences can include health issues, waste of resources, and a decrease in overall well-being due to overindulgence.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
