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definitions

extra

[ek-struh]
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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

adverb

in excess of the usual or specified amount: an extra high price.
beyond the ordinary degree; unusually; uncommonly: done extra well; extra large.

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RELATED WORDS

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

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

Examples from the Web for extra

Contemporary Examples of extra

Historical Examples of extra

  • What he had said about sending for an extra undertaker was right as right.

    The Wreckers

    Francis Lynde

  • Ourdays always wound up with an extra good dinner, and a touch of gala costume in honor of the occasion.

  • Those from eighteen to twenty-five it puts down as extra hazardous.

  • Sweat poured from his forehead, and the suit ventilator whined as it picked up the extra moisture.

  • You and Jim will have a quarter share each for your work, while I'll have an extra quarter for the capital I've put in.

    The Trail of '98

    Robert W. Service

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-).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for extra

extra-

pref.

Outside; beyond:extracellular.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.