Also known polythelia or an accessory or third nipple, supernumerary nipples are very commonly mistaken for moles. This fairly common, minor congenital condition usually presents as small, ill-formed ... Supernumerary starts off with the Latin prefix super-, "above".

Understanding the Context

You may have heard of someone being born with supernumerary teeth, supernumerary fingers, or supernumerary toes. A supernumerary rainbow may show up as a faint line—red, green, or purple—just touching the main colored arc. SUPERNUMERARY definition: being in excess of the usual, proper, or prescribed number; additional; extra. See examples of supernumerary used in a sentence.

Key Insights

Noun supernumerary (plural supernumeraries) A person who works in a group, association, or public office without forming part of the regular staff (the numerary). [from early 17th c.] The judge was a supernumerary, helping the regular judges whenever there was a surplus amount of work. There may be supernumerary remains (particularly teeth and other small bones) from additional individuals beyond those more or less completely represented. When used as a noun, supernumerary means a temporary employee, additional society member, or extra manpower, usually in a function which has a temporary contract. Definition of supernumerary adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Final Thoughts

Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. Factsheet What does the word supernumerary mean? There are 13 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word supernumerary. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.