supplement

[suhp-luh-muhnt, suhp-luh-ment]

noun

1. something added to complete a thing, supply a deficiency, or reinforce or extend a whole.

2. a part added to a book, document, etc., to supply additional or later information, correct errors, or the like.

   Synonyms: postscript, epilogue, addendum

3. a part, usually of special character, issued as an additional feature of a newspaper or other periodical.

4. Geometry.,  the quantity by which an angle or an arc falls short of 180° or a semicircle.

verb (used with object)

1. to complete, add to, or extend by a supplement.

2. to form a supplement or addition to.

3. to supply (a deficiency).

supplement

noun

1. an addition designed to complete, make up for a deficiency, etc

2. a section appended to a publication to supply further information, correct errors, etc

3. a magazine or section inserted into a newspaper or periodical, such as one with colour photographs issued every week

4. geometry

   1. either of a pair of angles whose sum is 180°

   2. Abbreviation: sup.  supp. an arc of a circle that when added to another arc forms a semicircle

verb

1. (tr) to provide a supplement to, esp in order to remedy a deficiency

Other Word Forms

• supplementation noun
• supplementer noun
• unsupplemented adjective
• well-supplemented adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of supplement¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin supplēmentum “that by which anything is made full,” equivalent to sup- sup- + plē- (stem of plēre “to fill”; full ¹ ) + -mentum -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of supplement¹

C14: from Latin supplēmentum, from supplēre to _supply ¹

Synonym Study

See appendix. See complement.

Example Sentences

She joked that she expanded the ranks of ICE agents by advertising to men who take gas station supplements.

Read more on Salon

“Do you take supplements that you bought at a gas station?”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Fumarate-based drugs or supplements might further extend the life and energy of older immune cells by preserving their mitochondria.

Read more on Science Daily

Super shoes, refined training, faster tracks and legal supplements most likely have had bigger effects on lowering times.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In preparing for the winds, officials chose to staff up only five of more than 40 engines available to supplement the regular firefighting force.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• augment 
• build up 
• buttress 
• complement 
• enhance 
• enrich 
• fill out 
• fortify 
• improve 
• reinforce 
• strengthen 
• subsidize 

When To Use

What does supplement mean?

A supplement is an addition to something that completes it or makes up for a shortcoming, as in He takes vitamin supplements to make up for his vitamin C deficiency.A supplement is also an addition to a book that provides important information or corrects errors. In this sense, supplement can be confused with the words appendix and index. An appendix gives additional information, such as charts and graphs, but the book or document would be considered complete without it. An index is an alphabetical list of names or topics with page numbers that helps you find something specific in the book, such as all the references to John Wilkes Booth in a biography of Abraham Lincoln.As a verb, supplement means to add to something, as in Tameka sold paintings to supplement her income.In this sense, supplement can be confused with the word complement. Both words mean to add something, but to complement means to add something to make up for a missing piece or element, while to supplement is to add extra information.Example: The company built a new roller coaster to supplement its original roller coaster, which always has a long line.