Superfluous vs Supernumerary - What's the Difference?

Superfluous

Supernumerary

Definitions

Definition as Noun
Definition as Noun
  • a person serving no apparent function
  • a minor actor in crowd scenes
Definition as Adjective
  • more than is needed, desired, or required
  • serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
Definition as Adjective
  • more than is needed, desired, or required

Examples

  • "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"
  • "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"
  • "reducing staff is difficult because our employees include no supernumeraries"

Parts of Speech

Adjective
Adjective, Noun