English dictionary

supernumerary Meaning & Definition

Q: What is the plural of supernumerary?

The plural of supernumerary is supernumeraries.

/ˌsuːpəˈnjuːm(ə)ɹ(ə)ɹi/

What Does Supernumerary Mean?

As a noun, supernumerary means A person who works in a group, association, or public office without forming part of the regular staff (the numerary). It is also used to mean An extra or walk-on, often non-speaking, in a film or play; a spear carrier. As an adjective, it means Greater in number than.

Supernumerary at a Glance

Part of speech	noun, adjective
Pronunciation	//ˌsuːpəˈnjuːm(ə)ɹ(ə)ɹi//
Syllables	1
Synonyms	superfluous, redundant and excess
Plural	supernumeraries

Supernumerary Definition (Noun)

A person who works in a group, association, or public office without forming part of the regular staff (the numerary).
The judge was a supernumerary, helping the regular judges whenever there was a surplus amount of work.
An extra or walk-on, often non-speaking, in a film or play; a spear carrier.
Something which is beyond the prescribed or standard amount or number.
They have a supernumerary hair whorl on their head, since they have three hair whorls.
An animal which has not formed a pair bond and is therefore single.
A married man or woman who is a secular member of Opus Dei, a Roman Catholic religious institution.

Supernumerary as an Adjective

Greater in number than.
Beyond the prescribed or standard amount or number; excess, extra.
a supernumerary nipple; a supernumerary tooth
Of an organ or structure: additional to what is normally present.
a supernumerary nipple; a supernumerary tooth
Beyond what is necessary; redundant.

Synonyms of Supernumerary

superfluous redundant excess surplus supererogatory spare unnecessary extra unneeded spear carrier

Supernumerary synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Supernumerary

No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.

Supernumerary in a Sentence

The judge was a supernumerary, helping the regular judges whenever there was a surplus amount of work.

They have a supernumerary hair whorl on their head, since they have three hair whorls.

a supernumerary nipple; a supernumerary tooth

Word Forms & Grammar

supernumerary (plural supernumeraries)

supernumerary (not comparable)

Origin of Supernumerary

From Late Latin supernumerarius (“extra soldier added to a legion; supernumerary”), from super (“above; beyond”) + numerus (“number; collection, quantity”) + -ārius (suffix forming adjectives from nouns or numerals).[1] The word is analysable as super- +‎ numeral +‎ -ary.

Supernumerary Pronunciation

You say supernumerary as //ˌsuːpəˈnjuːm(ə)ɹ(ə)ɹi//. It has 1 syllable.

Supernumerary: Your Questions Answered

Is supernumerary a noun or an adjective?

Supernumerary is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as an adjective.

What is another word for supernumerary?

Close synonyms of supernumerary are superfluous, redundant and excess. See the full list of supernumerary synonyms and antonyms.