# supplementation

/sˌʌplɪməntˈeɪʃən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/supplementation
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

the act of adding something to a diet or a system to make it complete or more effective. You use this when you take extra vitamins or add more staff to a team.

For teachers: the process of adding a substance to a diet, system, or structure to improve its quality or completeness. Often refers to the addition of nutrients to food or the addition of staff to a workforce.

## Examples

- The doctor recommended vitamin supplementation during the winter months.
- The company's recent supplementation of the engineering team allowed them to finish the project two weeks ahead of schedule.
- While natural food sources remain the primary goal of a balanced diet, the supplementation of essential fatty acids is often necessary to meet the specific requirements of high-performance athletes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.