a person serving no apparent function; "reducing staff is difficult because our employees include no supernumeraries"
Used in a Sentence
supernumerary
How to use supernumerary in a sentence. Example sentences and definitions for supernumerary.
Editorial note
Moles, scars, birthmarks, sores, supernumerary nipples and tattoos could all qualify.
Examples4
Definitions3
Parts of speech2
Quick take
a person serving no apparent function; "reducing staff is difficult because our employees include no supernumeraries"
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of supernumerary gathered in one view.
a minor actor in crowd scenes
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"
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for supernumerary.
noun
a person serving no apparent function; "reducing staff is difficult because our employees include no supernumeraries"
noun
a minor actor in crowd scenes
See also: extra
adjective
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"
See also: excess, extra, redundant, spare, supererogatory, superfluous, surplus
Example sentences
Moles, scars, birthmarks, sores, supernumerary nipples and tattoos could all qualify.
And found my copy, and finally sent off for a paper Principia which by that point was amusing but somewhat supernumerary.
In fact, most engineers make less than all those supernumerary non-technical VPs and product managers for nonexistent products that plague VC-funded companies.
>suggest that it may be of value to augment normal five-fingered hands with an artificial supernumerary fingerThat's missing the big picture in my opinion.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use supernumerary in a sentence?
Moles, scars, birthmarks, sores, supernumerary nipples and tattoos could all qualify.
What does supernumerary mean?
a person serving no apparent function; "reducing staff is difficult because our employees include no supernumeraries"
What part of speech is supernumerary?
supernumerary is commonly used as noun, adjective.