a person serving no apparent function; reducing staff is difficult because our employees include no supernumeraries'
a minor actor in crowd scenes
[ Syn: spear carrier , extra ]
supernumerary (n.)
more than is needed, desired, or required; trying to lose excess weight; found some extra change lying on the dresser; yet another book on heraldry might be thought redundant; skills made redundant by technological advance; sleeping in the spare room; supernumerary ornamentation; it was supererogatory of her to gloat; delete superfluous (or unnecessary) words; extra ribs as well as other supernumerary internal parts; surplus cheese distributed to the needy
[ Syn: excess , extra , redundant , spare , supererogatory , superfluous , surplus ]