ENGLISH
REFERENCE

supplement

n. countable
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈsəpɫəmənt// sup·ple·ment Academic

n. something extra that you add to something else to improve it or make it complete. You might take a vitamin supplement for your health or use a book supplement for your studies.

n. an additional component added to something else to enhance, complete, or extend it. Often refers to a separate section of a publication or a dietary additive.


SIMPLE

I take a daily vitamin supplement to stay healthy.

CONTEXTUAL

The Sunday newspaper includes a travel supplement with tips on affordable European vacations.

COMPLEX

The author provided a technical supplement to the main text, offering detailed mathematical proofs that would have otherwise disrupted the narrative flow of the primary chapters.

Synonyms
Origin

From Latin supplementum (“that which is added to supply a shortage”), from supplere (“to provide something”).

Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'to' when describing its relationship to the main object.

© 2026 English Reference