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Shortfall vs Surplus - What's the difference?

shortfall | surplus |

As nouns the difference between shortfall and surplus

is that shortfall is an instance of not meeting a quota or of having an insufficient amount while surplus is that which remains when use or need is satisfied, or when a limit is reached; excess; overplus.

As an adjective surplus is

being or constituting a surplus; more than sufficient; as, surplus revenues; surplus population; surplus words.

shortfall

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • An instance of not meeting a quota or of having an insufficient amount.
    • Due to a shortfall in revenue we will have to make some cuts.
  • The amount by which a quota is missed; the amount missing.

    • Derived terms

    * closure shortfall * force shortfall * implementation shortfall * shortfall constraint * shortfall risk

    Anagrams

    *

    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.}}