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 Vatican is particularly concerned about the spillover of Israel’s war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, given the plight of Christian communities in the south. —Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026

China, the world’s largest oil importer, faces potential inflationary spillovers, though its massive strategic stockpiles and diversified energy sources have provided some cushion for the economy. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026

On Monday, per Comscore, there was a spillover from the Easter holiday, with 49% of K-12 schools off across the nation in addition to 9% of all colleges. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026

When Guthrie anchors the Today show on Easter Monday, a major break in the case withstanding, the Christian spillover-holiday will mark the 65th day since her mother, Nancy Guthrie, 84, was taken from her home in Tucson, Arizona. —Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 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