Supplement — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈsə-plə-mənt/ (noun) /ˈsə-plə-ˌment/ (verb) sup·ple·ment

Meaning & Definition of Supplement

Supplement (noun)

  1. something that completes or makes an addition
  2. dietary supplement
  3. a part added to or issued as a continuation of a book or periodical to correct errors or make additions

Supplement (verb)

  1. to add or serve as a supplement to

Supplement (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something added (as by growth)

    "this new rule restricting e-mail to job-related activity is only a supplement to the preexisting policy regarding personal use of company resources"

    similar: accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, expansion, gain, increase, increment, more, plus, proliferation, raise, rise, step-up, uptick
    related: accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering, complement, accession, appendix, continuation, extension, uptrend, upturn, jump, run-up, spike
    opposite: abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, step-down
    near: deduction, subtraction

  2. something that serves to complete or make up for a deficiency in something else

    "recommends taking a vitamin C supplement to prevent colds"

    similar: complement, correlate
    related: addendum, addition, appendix, adjunct, annex, appendage, extension, accessory, accompaniment, appliance, attachment, additive, filler

  3. a part added at the end of a book or periodical

    "a supplement containing biographical articles on women who had died since the publication of the original three-volume encyclopedia"

    similar: addendum, afterword, appendix, codicil, excursus
    related: coda, epilogue, postlude, conclusion, ending, finale, accompaniment, addition, complement, postscript, follow-up, sequel, documentation, allonge, rider
    opposite: foreword, introduction, preface, prologue

Supplement (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in add (to), complement

    similar: add (to), complement, amplify, develop, dilate (on or upon), elaborate (on), enlarge (on or upon), expand, flesh (out), discourse, expatiate, ramble, run on
    opposite: abbreviate, abridge, condense, shorten, compress, contract, outline, summarize, sum up

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Supplement

The most common words with a similar meaning to Supplement:

accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, expansion, gain, increase, increment, more, plus, proliferation, raise, rise, step-up, uptick, complement, correlate, afterword, appendix, codicil, excursus, add (to), amplify, develop, dilate (on or upon), elaborate (on), enlarge (on or upon), expand, flesh (out), discourse, expatiate, ramble, run on

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Supplement

Words with the opposite meaning of Supplement:

abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, step-down, foreword, introduction, preface, prologue, abbreviate, abridge, condense, shorten, compress, contract, outline, summarize, sum up

Related Words for Supplement

accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering, accession, continuation, extension, uptrend, upturn, jump, run-up, spike, adjunct, annex, appendage, accessory, accompaniment, appliance, attachment, additive, filler, coda, epilogue, postlude, conclusion, ending, finale, postscript, follow-up, sequel

Near Antonyms of Supplement

deduction, subtraction

Word Forms of Supplement

Inflections: supplemented, supplementing, supplements

Derived words: supplementation (noun), supplementer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Supplement

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin supplēmentum "something added to supply a deficiency or make up a whole, reinforcement," from supplēre "to fill up, complete, raise to its full complement" + -mentum -ment supply:2

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Supplement

Words & Phrases Containing Supplement

dietary supplement, colour supplement

Frequently Asked Questions about Supplement

What does "Supplement" mean?

"Supplement" means something that completes or makes an addition. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: something that completes or makes an addition. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Supplement"?

Other words for "Supplement" include accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, expansion and gain. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Supplement" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Supplement"?

There are 68 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Supplement". Common alternatives include accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, expansion, gain, increase and increment.

What is the opposite of "Supplement"?

Antonyms of "Supplement" include abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution and drop-off. Near antonyms include deduction and subtraction.

How do you use "Supplement" in a sentence?

Examples of "Supplement" in a sentence: "this new rule restricting e-mail to job-related activity is only a supplement to the preexisting policy regarding personal use of company resources"; "recommends taking a vitamin C supplement to prevent colds"; "a supplement containing biographical articles on women who had died since the publication of the original three-volume encyclopedia".

Is "Supplement" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Supplement" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Supplement" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Supplement" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Supplement"?

"Supplement" is pronounced /ˈsə-plə-mənt/ as a noun and /ˈsə-plə-ˌment/ as a verb and divided into syllables as sup·ple·ment.