Superfluous vs Extra - What's the Difference?

Extra

Superfluous

Definitions

Definition as Noun
  • an additional edition of a newspaper (usually to report a crisis)
  • something additional of the same kind
  • a minor actor in crowd scenes
Definition as Noun
Definition as Adjective
  • further or added
  • more than is needed, desired, or required
  • added to a regular schedule
Definition as Adjective
  • more than is needed, desired, or required
  • serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
Definition as Adverb
  • unusually or exceptionally
Definition as Adverb

Examples

  • "called for additional troops"; "need extra help"; "an extra pair of shoes"
  • "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"
  • "a special holiday flight"; "put on special buses for the big game"
  • "an extra fast car"
  • "he always carried extras in case of an emergency"
  • "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"
  • "otiose lines in a play"; "advice is wasted words"; "a pointless remark"; "a life essentially purposeless"; "senseless violence"

Parts of Speech

Adjective, Adverb, Noun
Adjective