spillover

noun

spill·​over ˈspil-ˌō-vər 

often attributive

1

: the act or an instance of spilling over

2

: a quantity that spills over

3

: an extension of something especially when an excess exists

benefiting from a spillover of prosperity from neighboring states

Examples of spillover in a Sentence

Put a pan under the pie to catch any spillovers.

New technology has a positive spillover effect into countless fields.

Recent Examples on the Web

The report touted positive results for the 405 electric cars and trucks the county has purchased, with more than $300,000 in savings on fuel, maintenance and the spillover cost of greenhouse gas and pollution emissions on health and the environment. —Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 13 June 2026

Damage to critical energy infrastructure, disruptions to shipping through key waterways, and the human toll of active hostilities have compounded into an economic crisis with spillover effects spanning every developing region on the planet. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 June 2026

Keep water fresh in livestock tanks, and try to prevent spillover. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 12 June 2026

Remote work tends to compress interactions into discrete exchanges—clear starts, clear stops, little spillover. —Vikram Joshi, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for spillover

• carryover
• changeover
• crossover
• cutover
• flashover
• hangover
• holdover
• layover
• leftover
• makeover
• moreover
• passover