supernumerary

USsoo-per-NOO-muh-rair-ee/ˌsupɚˈn(j)uməˌɹɛɹi/UKsoo-puh-NYOO-muh-ruh-ree/ˌsuːpəˈnjuːm(ə)ɹ(ə)ɹi/

7 meanings of supernumerary

1
beyond quotaadjective
Extra, more than the usual or needed number.
Like an extra chair when everyone already has a seat.
The school hired a supernumerary teacher to cover the extra classes.
During training, new nurses work as supernumerary staff on the ward.
Similarextra, surplus, additional, superfluous, redundant
Note
2
extra (anatomy)adjective
Extra, more than the usual number of a body part, such as a finger or a tooth.
Like a plant that grows one extra leaf where it usually has just two.
The baby was born with a supernumerary finger on each hand.
Some people have a supernumerary tooth that grows behind the others.
Similarextra, accessory, additional
Note
3
nouncountable
A person who works with a group but is not part of the regular staff.
Like a helper who joins a team for a while but isn't really a member.
The office took on a supernumerary to help during the busy season.
Several supernumeraries assisted the committee without holding official posts.
Similarextra, auxiliary
Note
4
walk-on actornouncountable
An actor with a small, usually silent part in a film or play.
Like the people in the background of a photo who fill the space but aren't the focus.
She worked as a supernumerary in several crowd scenes.
The director needed twenty supernumeraries to fill the marketplace set.
UsageOften as a supernumerary. People also say super.
Similarextra, walk-on
Note
5
nouncountable
An extra thing beyond the usual or needed number.
Like the one extra glove left over when everyone already has a pair.
On a bright day, a faint supernumerary can appear just inside a rainbow.
Some grasses carry supernumeraries, extra chromosomes beyond their usual set.
Similarextra, spare
Note
6
Opus Deinouncountable
A member of Opus Dei, a Roman Catholic group, who is free to marry and usually lives an ordinary family life.
Like a member of a club who takes part fully but still lives at home with their family.
As a supernumerary, he raised his children while following Opus Dei's teachings.
My aunt is an Opus Dei supernumerary, married with three children.
Note

Less common meaning

7
noun
An animal that has no mate and lives single.

Practice

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Origin

From Late Latin supernumerarius, meaning an extra soldier added to a legion. It comes from super ("above, beyond") plus numerus ("number").

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Supernumerary comes from Late Latin supernumerarius. en.wiktionary.org
Supernumerarius meant an extra soldier added to a legion. en.wiktionary.org
Its Latin components include super, meaning above or beyond, and numerus, meaning number. en.wiktionary.org