supernumerary meaning and definition

SUPERNUMERARY noun

Definition of supernumerary (noun)

1. a person serving no apparent function
   • "reducing staff is difficult because our employees include no supernumeraries"
2. a minor actor in crowd scenes
   • synonyms: extra, spear carrier

SUPERNUMERARY adjective

Definition of supernumerary (adjective)

1. more than is needed, desired, or required
   • "trying to lose excess weight"; "found some extra change lying on the dresser"; "yet another book on heraldry might be thought redundant"; "skills made redundant by technological advance"; "sleeping in the spare room"; "supernumerary ornamentation"; "it was supererogatory of her to gloat"; "delete superfluous (or unnecessary) words"; "extra ribs as well as other supernumerary internal parts"; "surplus cheese distributed to the needy"
   • synonyms: excess, extra, redundant, spare, supererogatory, superfluous, surplus