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

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Etymology

Origin of supernumerary

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

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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

Other technologies that function as extensions of the body, including supernumerary robotic limbs, exoskeletons, and wearable robots, could also benefit from movement that mirrors natural human rhythm.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 13, 2026

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

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

Our two boys were also supernumeraries, playing young sailors in the 2001 production of ‘Billy Budd.’

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 28, 2021

John Mollo may have put more effort into them than any other “Star Wars” supernumeraries.

From New York Times ● Nov. 25, 2018

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

At the Temple of Dendur, the Rockettes make like supernumeraries from a dusty production of “Aida,” striking hieroglyphic poses in Egyptian attire.

From New York Times ● Mar. 26, 2015

In 1908, the number of women employees in the postal and telegraph service of Great Britain was 13,259; the number of women supernumeraries, 30,476: total number, 43,735.

From The Modern Woman's Rights Movement A Historical Survey by Kaethe Schirmacher

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