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Remnant vs Surplus - What's the difference?

remnant | surplus |

As nouns the difference between remnant and surplus

is that remnant is the small portion remaining of a larger thing or group while surplus is that which remains when use or need is satisfied, or when a limit is reached; excess; overplus.

As adjectives the difference between remnant and surplus

is that remnant is (archaic) remaining; still left while surplus is being or constituting a surplus; more than sufficient; as, surplus revenues; surplus population; surplus words.

remnant

English

Alternative forms

* remnaunt (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • The small portion remaining of a larger thing or group.
  • The remaining fabric at the end of the bolt.
    • Usually not enough to make an entire project by itself, remnants of several fabrics can be used to make quilts.
  • An unsold end of piece goods, as cloth, ribbons, carpets, etc.

    • Synonyms

    * (Small remaining portion) relic, residue, remainder * (Unsold end of piece goods) remains * the'' rest ''of

    Derived terms

    * nova remnant * supernova remnant

    Related terms

    * remain * remanent

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (archaic) Remaining; still left.
  • * Fuller
    • Because of the remnant dregs of his disease.
  • * Prior
    • And quiet dedicate her remnant life / To the just duties of an humble wife.

    External links

    * * *

    surplus

    English

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • That which remains when use or need is satisfied, or when a limit is reached; excess; overplus.
  • Specifically, an amount in the public treasury at any time greater than is required for the ordinary purposes of the government.
  • (legal) The remainder of a fund appropriated for a particular purpose.
  • (legal) assets left after liabilities and debts, including capital stock have been deducted.

    • Antonyms

    * lack * deficit

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Being or constituting a surplus; more than sufficient; as, surplus revenues; surplus population; surplus words.
  • * {{quote-magazine, title=A better waterworks, date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838
    • , page=5 (Technology Quarterly), magazine=(The Economist) citation , passage=An artificial kidney these days still means a refrigerator-sized dialysis machine. Such devices mimic the way real kidneys cleanse blood and eject impurities and surplus water as urine.}}