Standard Lemma guide

supererogation

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌs(j)uːpəɹɛɹəˈɡeɪʃ(ə)n/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An act of doing more than is required.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An action that is neither morally forbidden nor required, but has moral value.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

an effort above and beyond the call of duty

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: effort, elbow grease, exertion, travail, sweat

History

Etymology

From Late Latin superērogātiō (“payment in addition”), from superērogāre (“to pay in addition”), from super (“in addition to”) + ērogāre (“to pay, pay out, expend, disburse”), equivalent to supererogate + -ion.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: престараване (prestaravane) — Translations
  • French: surérogation — Translations
  • Italian: supererogazione — Translations
  • Spanish: supererogación — Translations