supernumerary

[soo-per-noo-muh-rer-ee, -nyoo-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR supernumerary ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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

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

noun, plural su·per·nu·mer·ar·ies.

a supernumerary or extra person or thing.

a supernumerary official or employee.

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

Origin of supernumerary

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

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

Related Words for supernumerary

excess, extra, additional, effusive, exaggerated, superfluous

Examples from the Web for supernumerary

Historical Examples of supernumerary

Supernumerary: additional or added cells, veins or other structures.
Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology
John. B. Smith
One felt one's self a supernumerary hired to fill the scene.
The Education of Henry Adams
Henry Adams
A supernumerary, who thought that he must be dead, had asked for his place.
The Conspirators
Alexandre Dumas (Pere)
Placed on the books for victuals and wages; also supernumerary and "for rank."
The Sailor's Word-Book
William Henry Smyth
It is not extravagant to say that any one fish may be considered a supernumerary.
The Poet at the Breakfast Table
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

British Dictionary definitions for supernumerary

supernumerary

adjective

exceeding a regular or proper number; extra

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

noun plural -aries

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

a person who functions as a substitute or assistant

an actor who has no lines, esp a nonprofessional one

Word Origin for supernumerary

C17: from Late Latin supernumerārius, from Latin super- + numerus number

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 supernumerary

adj.

c.1600, from Late Latin supernumarius "excessive in number" (of soldiers added to a full legion), from Latin super numerum "beyond the number," from super "beyond, over" (see super-) + numerum, accusative of numerus "number" (see number (n.)).

supernumerary in Medicine

supernumerary

[sōō′pər-nōō′mə-rĕr′ē]

adj.

Exceeding the normal or usual number; extra.