supplement

/ˈsʌplɪmənt/ (noun), /ˈsʌplɪment/ (verb)

Say it: SUP-luh-munt (noun), SUP-luh-ment (verb)

1. verb To add an extra element or amount to something to improve or complete it.
He works a second job to supplement his income.
2. noun Something that is added to something else to enhance or complete it.
She takes a daily vitamin supplement to ensure she gets enough iron.
3. noun A separate part of a newspaper, magazine, or book that provides extra information or features.
The Sunday paper always comes with a thick lifestyle supplement.

📖 Seen in the wild

Many students choose to supplement their textbook readings with articles from academic journals.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ supplement in a sentence

Many students work part-time jobs to supplement their loans.
The documentary includes a DVD supplement with behind-the-scenes footage.
The report was fine on its own, but the new data provides a valuable supplement.
For a more complete understanding, I'd supplement this book with a few articles on the topic.
The magazine's weekend supplement is usually filled with lifestyle articles and puzzles.
The new research findings will be published as a supplement to the medical journal.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

augment enhance add to boost increase complement reinforce

augment · implies making something greater in size, number, or value.

enhance · focuses on improving the quality or attractiveness of something.

add to · a more general and less formal term for increasing something.

boost · an informal term suggesting a quick or powerful increase.

Opposites: reduce, decrease, diminish, lessen

🌱 Where it comes from

The word comes from the Latin 'supplere', meaning 'to fill up' or 'make complete'. It was formed from 'sub-' (up from below) and 'plere' (to fill), giving it the core idea of adding something to make a thing whole. This sense of completing or adding to something has remained central to its meaning in English.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

dietary/vitamin supplementsupplement one's incomea newspaper supplementa useful supplement to

Don't confuse 'supplement' with 'complement'. A supplement adds to something that is often already complete on its own. A complement is something that completes a whole, making it perfect. For example, you supplement your income (add to it), but a wine complements a meal (completes it).

Word family: supplementary, supplemental, supplementation

💬 Quick answers

What does 'supplement' mean?

It means to add something to improve or complete another thing. It can be a verb, meaning 'to add to', or a noun, meaning 'the thing that is added'.

What is the difference between supplement and complement?

A supplement adds to something that could be complete on its own, like a vitamin supplement for a diet. A complement is an essential addition that completes something, like how a good sauce complements a dish.

How do you pronounce supplement?

The pronunciation changes slightly depending on the part of speech. The noun is pronounced 'SUP-luh-munt', while the verb is pronounced 'SUP-luh-ment', with a clearer 'ment' sound at the end.

Is 'supplement' a formal word?

Supplement is a neutral word. It is perfectly suitable for formal contexts like academic writing, as well as for everyday conversations about diet or income.

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