supernumerary

[ soo-per-noo-muh-rer-ee, -nyoo- ]

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.

noun

, plural su·per·nu·mer·ar·ies.

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

/ -ˈnjuːmrərɪ; ˌsuːpəˈnjuːmərərɪ /

adjective

1. exceeding a regular or proper number; extra
2. functioning as a substitute or assistant with regard to a regular body or staff

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of supernumerary¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of supernumerary¹

C17: from Late Latin supernumerārius, from Latin super- + numerus number

Example Sentences

A mature horse chestnut, it is festooned with glorious blooms every spring, and after a few weeks sheds hundreds of partially grown, supernumerary conkers, encased in spiky green coverings.

From Seattle Times

One-hour training is enough for people to carry a task alone with their supernumerary robotic arms as effectively as with a partner, study finds.

From Science Daily

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

He remembers the houses with high ceilings, Dresden china chandeliers and suits of armor in the corners; the men in creaking shirts; the Sunday roasts; the Harvard-Yale football games; the bustling of supernumeraries.

From New York Times

These experiments showed that humans can feel like these extra, or “supernumerary,” limbs are a part of their body.

From Scientific American