spillover

noun

spill·​over ˈspil-ˌō-vər 

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

Layoffs of federal employees and contractors are already causing spillover effects in the private-sector as well as among contractors and small businesses. —Josh Bivens, TIME, 20 Mar. 2025

This has created a spillover effect, replenishing fish populations in adjacent fishing zones and directly benefiting local communities that depend on the ocean for food security and income. —Andi Cross, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025

These spillover effects hurt other sectors of the economy, ultimately costing jobs, economists said. —Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2025

The sector that would show spillover from Department of Government Efficiency layoffs into private sector contractors is professional and business services, which actually added 27,000 jobs, ADP said. —Courtenay Brown, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for spillover

• carryover
• changeover
• crossover
• cutover
• flashover
• hangover
• holdover
• layover
• leftover
• makeover
• moreover
• passover