spillover

noun

spill·​over ˈspil-ˌō-vər How to pronounce spillover (audio)
often attributive
1
: the act or an instance of spilling over
2
: a quantity that spills over
3
: an extension of something especially when an excess exists
benefiting from a spillover of prosperity from neighboring states

Examples of spillover in a Sentence

Put a pan under the pie to catch any spillovers. New technology has a positive spillover effect into countless fields.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Photo : Simon Berlyn The swimming pool and spillover spa. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 8 Jan. 2025 Most worrying, though, is the spillover from livestock to humans. Simon Hill, WIRED, 14 Dec. 2024 Bryan, this action by the NLRB will likely have a spillover effect, as Renee said. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 12 Dec. 2024 Then there is the priority of making sure that our friends in the region are secure and stable -- Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon -- that these countries do not suffer from any kind of violent spillover effects from what's happening in Syria. David Brennan, ABC News, 9 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for spillover 

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spillover was in 1940

Dictionary Entries Near spillover

Cite this Entry

“Spillover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spillover. Accessed 11 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on spillover

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!