supernumerary

¹su·per·nu·mer·ary

adj
\ˌsü-pər-ˈnü-mə-ˌrer-ē, -ˈnyü-, -mə-rē; -ˈn(y)üm-rē\

Definition of SUPERNUMERARY

1

a : exceeding the usual, stated, or prescribed number <a supernumerary tooth> b : not enumerated among the regular components of a group and especially of a military organization

2

: exceeding what is necessary, required, or desired

3

: more numerous

Examples of SUPERNUMERARY

1. <a third, supernumerary witness to the signing of the will>

Origin of SUPERNUMERARY

Late Latin supernumerarius, from Latin super- + numerus number

First Known Use: 1605

Related to SUPERNUMERARY

Synonyms: excess, extra, redundant, supererogatory, superfluous, spare, surplus

Related Words: accessory, additional, supplemental, supplementary; de trop, dispensable, extraneous, gratuitous, needless, nonessential, uncalled-for, unessential, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted; abundant, ample, bountiful, copious, plenteous, plentiful

Near Antonyms: deficient, inadequate, insufficient, meager (or meagre), niggardly, poor, scant, scanty, scarce, short, shortish, skimpy, sparse

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Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, tactical

Rhymes with SUPERNUMERARY

beneficiary, devolutionary, eleemosynary, evidentiary, evolutionary, extraliterary, insurrectionary, intermediary, paramilitary, penitentiary, quatercentenary, revolutionary, sesquicentenary, valetudinary