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

However, experts have long warned of the potential for a spillover to neighboring countries on NATO’s eastern flank that could force the alliance to respond militarily. —Matt Spetalnick, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025

The prospect of spillover is not hypothetical. —Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025

Endogenous growth theory and lagged returns from AI Romer emphasized that the social returns to knowledge investments often exceed private returns because knowledge spillovers are hard to fully appropriate. —Anjana Susarla, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

The disruption of von der Leyen’s plane has thrust the issue into the spotlight at a time when Europe is already on edge over the war in Ukraine and its spillover effects. —Andy Eckardt, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2025

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