supernumerary
2 synonyms for supernumerary, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Someone who works alongside a group or office but is not one of its regular members.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
Someone who works alongside a group or office but is not one of its regular members.
“The judge was a supernumerary, helping the regular judges whenever there was a surplus amount of work.”
2. noun
An extra performer in a film or play, usually without any lines.
“Though little is known about Noble Luke Usher before his first recorded performance in Washington, D.C., in 1800, it is certain that he made the rounds of the eastern theatres as a supernumerary before as well as after that year.”
Etymology
Comes from Late Latin supernumerarius (“extra soldier added to a legion; supernumerary”), from super (“above; beyond”), numerus (“number; collection, quantity”), and -ārius (a suffix forming adjectives from nouns or numerals). The word can also be analysed as super- + numeral + -ary.
Full origin of supernumerary →