extra

[ek-struh]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR extra ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

beyond or more than what is usual, expected, or necessary; additional: an extra copy of a newspaper; an extra charge.

larger or better than what is usual: an extra binding.

noun

something extra or additional: the little amenities and extras that make life pleasant.

an additional expense.

a special edition of a newspaper, other than a regular edition.

something of superior quality.

Movies, Television. a person hired by the day to play a minor part, as a member of a mob or crowd.

an additional worker.

Usually extras. Cricket. a score or run not made from the bat, as a bye or a wide.

adverb

in excess of the usual or specified amount: an extra high price.

beyond the ordinary degree; unusually; uncommonly: done extra well; extra large.

Origin of extra

First recorded in 1770–80; by shortening of extraordinary

extra-

a prefix meaning “outside,” “beyond,” freely used as an English formative: extrajudicial; extraterritorial; extra-atmospheric.

Also extro-.

Origin of extra-

< Latin, combining form of extrā (adv. and preposition) outside (of), without

ab extra

[ahb ek-strah; English ab ek-struh]

adverb Latin.

from the outside.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for extra

supplementary, added, ancillary, additional, unnecessary, extraneous, unused, extraordinary, fresh, supplemental, new, further, leftover, other, special, auxiliary, bonus, gravy, supernumerary, needless

Examples from the Web for extra

Contemporary Examples of extra

But one extra trick would instantly solve the problem of crashes that occur over water.
Red Tape and Black Boxes: Why We Keep ‘Losing’ Airliners in 2014
Clive Irving
December 29, 2014
Extra security was also set up along the lines to monitor other signs of potential sabotage.
Italy’s Terror on the Tracks
Barbie Latza Nadeau
December 28, 2014
Extra dry, for example, is actually sweeter than brut, which is drier than demi-sec, which is somewhat sweet.
Champagne: You’re Drinking It All Wrong
Kayleigh Kulp
December 20, 2014
The constitutional problem with this ruling, experts say, is that it places an extra burden on women for being pregnant.
States Slap Pregnant Women With Harsher Jail Sentences
Emily Shire
December 12, 2014
Bershin, who worked with the Ukrainian police before rebels took control of Donetsk, says officers have to be extra vigilant.
The Corrupt Cops of Rebel-Held East Ukraine
Kristina Jovanovski
December 11, 2014

Historical Examples of extra

I have large sums of my own to invest, and it is no extra trouble to look after your money.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
I had read the "Extra," with all its sickening details, and so handed it back to him.
The Underdog
F. Hopkinson Smith
The men worked as usual, nor was there any extra liquor drunk.
Ned Myers
James Fenimore Cooper
Grant repressed an impulse to shout, and used the breath for an extra burst of speed.
Good Indian
B. M. Bower
I may as well have your note of hand for that extra capital.
Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit
Charles Dickens

British Dictionary definitions for extra

extra

adjective

being more than what is usual or expected; additional

noun

a person or thing that is additional

something for which an additional charge is madethe new car had many extras

an additional edition of a newspaper, esp to report a new development or crisis

films an actor or person temporarily engaged, usually for crowd scenes

cricket a run not scored from the bat, such as a wide, no-ball, bye, or leg bye

US something that is better than usual in quality

adverb

unusually; exceptionallyan extra fast car

Word Origin for extra

C18: perhaps shortened from extraordinary

extra-

prefix

outside or beyond an area or scopeextrasensory; extraterritorial

Word Origin for extra-

from Latin extrā outside, beyond, changed from extera, from exterus outward

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for extra

1650s as a stand-alone adjective; also used as an adverb and noun in 17c. (see extra-); modern usages -- including sense of "minor performer in a play" (1777) and "special edition of a newspaper" (1793) -- all probably are from shortenings of extraordinary, which was used extensively in 18c. as noun and adverb in places we would use extra today.

extra-

only recorded in classical Latin in extraordinarius, but much used in Medieval Latin and modern formations; it represents Latin extra (adv.) "on the outside, without, except," the old fem. ablative singular of exterus "outward, outside," comparative of ex "out of" (see ex-).

extra in Medicine

extra-

pref.

Outside; beyond:extracellular.