A surplice (Late Latin superpelliceum, from super, "over" and pellis, "fur") is a liturgical vestment of the Western Christian Church. The surplice is in the form of a tunic often made from white linen, polycotton or cotton fabrics, reaching to the knees or to the ankles, with wide or moderately wide sleeves.

It was originally a long garment reaching nearly to the ground, as it remains in the Anglican tradition, but in the Roman Catholic tradition, the surplice is shorter and when rather short, is sometimes referred to with the Medieval Latin term cotta.

Cottas have square neckline and surplices have round, somethimes gathered neckline.

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