supernumerary

American  

[soo-per-noo-muh-rer-ee, -nyoo-] / ˌsu pərˈnu məˌrɛr i, -ˈnju- /

adjective

1. being in excess of the usual, proper, or prescribed number; additional; extra.

2. associated with a regular body or staff as an assistant or substitute in case of necessity.

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noun

• supernumeraries
  plural

1. a supernumerary or extra person or thing.

2. a supernumerary official or employee.

3. a person who appears in a play or film without speaking lines or as part of a crowd; walk-on; extra.

supernumerary British  

/ ˌsuːpəˈnjuːmərərɪ, -ˈnjuːmrərɪ /

adjective

1. exceeding a regular or proper number; extra

2. functioning as a substitute or assistant with regard to a regular body or staff

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noun

1. a person or thing that exceeds the normal, required, or regular number

2. a person who functions as a substitute or assistant

3. an actor who has no lines, esp a nonprofessional one

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• supernumeraries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of supernumerary

From the Late Latin word supernumerārius, dating back to 1595–1605. See super-, numerary

Explanation

Supernumerary is an adjective that describes something there’s too much of. If a scheduling mishap results in three extra people showing up for work, then you have supernumerary staff. You probably know that something that's super is extreme in some way. And in supernumerary you’ll see part of the word “numeral,” which means “number.” So it makes sense that the adjective supernumerary describes an excess of something — an extraordinary number of that thing. Similarly, the noun version of supernumerary describes someone who's extra and has nothing to do. She just isn’t needed, like the player who never gets off the bench.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

supernumerary supernumeraries

Among the supernumerary features: 13 cupholders, seven USB-C ports, two 120V outlets, and three-zone climate control.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025

The results showed that the participants who had received training on the supernumerary arm performed the tasks just as well as the participants who were working with a partner.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 27, 2023

Because that's what Japanese company Exii recently premiered with their Jizai Arms — a robotic arm bag, or "supernumerary robotic limb system" that enables humans to control six additional AI robotic limbs.

From Salon ● May 28, 2023

A supernumerary is a role that requires minimal talent.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 28, 2021

It was this extra attention to detail, a supernumerary zeal to approach perfection that led him to spend part of each weekday morning at Hobie’s Grill.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

For “Children Will Listen,” led by Headley, with superb, sinuous phrasing, deBessonet suddenly swells the cast with 70 or so supernumeraries, children and seniors singing along.

From New York Times ● May 6, 2022

BAM Fisher is the wrong venue for “Sun & Sea,” with the singers and supernumeraries crammed on too small a sandbar, pinned up against ugly gray walls.

From New York Times ● Sep. 16, 2021

Broken into six-hour installments spaced out over two weeks, the hallucinatory concert extravaganza is being custom tailored, with local musicians, guest artists and glittery supernumeraries brought in for the occasion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 14, 2018

Pasha Selim became a fashion mogul, and models were used as supernumeraries who walked an illuminated runway.

From Washington Times ● Nov. 24, 2014

The other two were entered on the books as supernumeraries, and employed in the Adelaide.

From Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle, between the years 1826 and 1836 Volume I. - Proceedings of the First Expedition, 1826-1830 by Robert Fitzroy