augmentation

American  

[awg-men-tay-shuhn] / ˌɔg mɛnˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

• augmentations
  plural

1. the act of augmenting; state of being augmented.

2. that by which anything is augmented.

3. Music. modification of a theme by increasing the time value of all its notes.

4. Heraldry. an addition to a coat of arms granted to a person by a sovereign power in recognition of a notable action.

---

augmentation British  

/ ˌɔːɡmɛnˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of augmenting or the state of being augmented

2. the amount by which something is increased

3. music the presentation of a subject of a fugue, in which the note values are uniformly increased Compare diminution

---

Usage

What does augmentation mean? Augmentation is the act or process of augmenting something—adding to it in a way that makes it bigger or better. This can involve literally or figuratively increasing it in size, number, shape, value, or quality or in some other way. The augmentation of a material involves the addition of another material or substance to make it stronger. The augmentation of a museum collection involves the addition of new artifacts. The word can also refer to a thing that augments—an additional source of income is an augmentation to one’s salary. Augment and augmentation are also used in a much more specific way in the context of music, but their general senses are much more commonly used. Example: The augmentation of our emergency stockpile should be our top priority.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• augmentations
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of augmentation

1425–75; late Middle English (< Anglo-French ) < Late Latin augmentātiōn- (stem of augmentātiō ). See augment, -ation; replacing late Middle English aumentacion < Middle French

---

Explanation

Augmentation makes things bigger. An augmentation is also the amount something increases. To augment is to enlarge something or to add to it. Augmentation is the noun for any process or amount that makes something bigger or greater. It often refers to a budget, curriculum, or some kinds of plastic surgery. The augmentation of the defense budget would increase the budget. The amount of the increase could also be called an augmentation.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

augmentation augmentations

Zeidane said the IMF could not rule out that there would be further requests for augmentation or new programs in Africa by the end of the year.

From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026

“There is this augmentation of Martian energy, this feeling of needing to go up against an adversary, this feeling of needing to react quickly,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026

"But to truly unlock its potential, we need to better understand the right doses, long-term safety, and interindividual variability in response to NAD+ augmentation strategies."

From Science Daily ● Mar. 24, 2026

Last week, Carvalho announced an additional one-time augmentation of $50 million into the Black Student Achievement Plan, or BSAP, for the 2025-26 school year, bringing funding to $175 million.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2025

“Material profit. Increase of knowledge. The augmentation of the complexity and intensity of the field of intelligent life. The enrichment of harmony and the greater glory of God. Curiosity. Adventure. Delight.”

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Among patients 66 and older, demand for breast augmentations, tummy tucks, arm lifts, thigh lifts and facelifts all increased by double digits.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 5, 2026

Labour MP and committee chair Sarah Owen said liquid BBLs and liquid breast augmentations pose a serious threat to safety.

From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2026

Doctors say they’re fielding even more calls than usual to book appointments for face-lifts and breast augmentations during the winter months, as patients anticipate spring break, summer vacation, wedding season and the gala circuit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 7, 2026

Enter Ceesay’s Morrow, a cyborg with a mechanical arm and other technological augmentations, such as the ability to download a starship’s files into his brain.

From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2025

This rule does not apply to bordures, nor very stringently to augmentations or crests, and it is not so rigidly enforced in Foreign as in British Heraldry.

From The Handbook to English Heraldry by R. B. Utting

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• enhancement
• enlargement

---