Supererogatory
//suːpəɹɛˈɹɒɡətəɹi// adj
adj ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Pertaining to supererogation; doing more than is required.
"They passed into the ancient shipyard which lay beyond, and which was now a mere vague, grass-grown approach to the waterside, bestrewn with a few remnants of supererogatory timber."
- 2 Of a deed or action, morally benevolent and exceeding the strict requirement of God.
Adjective
- 1 more than is needed, desired, or required wordnet
Example
More examples"They passed into the ancient shipyard which lay beyond, and which was now a mere vague, grass-grown approach to the waterside, bestrewn with a few remnants of supererogatory timber."
Etymology
From Latin superērogātōrius (“supererogatory”), from superērogātiō (“payment in addition”), from superērogō (“pay out over and above”), from super (“above”) + ērogō (“pay out, expend”); from ex (“out of, from”) + rogō (“ask; request”).
Related phrases
More for "supererogatory"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.