Standard Lemma guide

supplement

noun · verb · 14 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈsʌp.lɪ.mənt/
  • London: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Canada, General-American: /ˈsʌp.lə.mənt/
  • Australian, New-Zealand: /ˈsɐp.lə.mənt/
  • CMU ARPABET: S AH1 P L AH0 M AH0 N T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: S AH2 P L AH0 M EH1 N T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Something added; especially, such an addition added to make up for a deficiency.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: see Thesaurus:adjunct

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: accessory, accompaniment, addition, add-on, adjunct, affix, annex, apanage, appendage, appendix, extra, increase, increment, supplement

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: addition

2

noun

Meaning 2

An extension to a document or publication that adds information, corrects errors, or brings up to date.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

An additional section of a newspaper devoted to a specific subject; an additional section of a journal issue, or an additional issue, for a similar purpose.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: journalism, literature, media, publishing, sciences, scientific

Examples

  • the literary supplement

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

An angle that, when added to a given angle, makes 180°; a supplementary angle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: geometry, mathematics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound ingested to meet dietary deficiencies or enhance muscular development; the dosage form that conveys or embodies it (e.g., tablet, capsule, pill, powder, beverage).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: nutrition

Topics: bodybuilding, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

Examples

  • Vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids must come from either the diet or supplements.
  • Menstruators are likelier to need an iron supplement than non-menstruators, whose diet alone is usually sufficient.
  • She wasn't getting enough iron, so they prescribed a supplement.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A surcharge, additional cost, especially for food in a restaurant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • There is a £2 supplement if you choose the steak.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

An adjunct that is nonessential, especially a supplementary relative clause.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: adjunct

8

verb

Meaning 8

To provide or make a supplement to something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I supplement my income by working as a model.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

a supplementary component that improves capability

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: accessory, appurtenance, add-on

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: component, constituent, element

Narrower terms: auto accessory, computer accessory, fitting, fixings, trimmings

10

noun

Meaning 10

a quantity added (e.g. to make up for a deficiency)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: supplementation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: increase, increment

11

noun

Meaning 11

textual matter that is added onto a publication; usually at the end

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: addendum, postscript

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: matter

Narrower terms: appendix, sequel, continuation

12

verb

Meaning 12

add to the very end

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He appended a glossary to his novel where he used an invented language

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: append, add on, affix

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: attach

Narrower terms: annex

13

verb

Meaning 13

add as a supplement to what seems insufficient

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • supplement your diet

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: add

Narrower terms: vitaminize, vitaminise, eke out, fill out, leverage

14

verb

Meaning 14

serve as a supplement to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Vitamins supplemented his meager diet

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: constitute, represent, make up, comprise, be

History

Etymology

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

Across languages

Translations

138 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: լրացում (lracʻum) — something added
  • Bulgarian: допълнение (dopǎlnenie) — something added
  • Dutch: aanvulling — something added
  • Dutch: supplement — something added
  • Esperanto: alaĵo — something added
  • Esperanto: aldono — something added
  • Finnish: täydennys — something added
  • Finnish: lisä — something added
  • Galician: suplemento — something added
  • German: Ergänzung — something added
  • Greek: συμπλήρωμα (symplíroma) — something added
  • Ancient Greek: προσθήκη (prosthḗkē) — something added
  • Italian: integrazione — something added
  • Italian: supplemento — something added
  • Italian: aggiunta — something added
  • Latin: appendix — something added
  • Macedonian: дополну́вање (dopolnúvanje) — something added
  • Macedonian: дополне́ние (dopolnénie) — something added
  • Māori: āpiti — something added
  • Māori: turuki — something added
  • Norwegian Bokmål: tillegg — something added
  • Norwegian Bokmål: supplement — something added
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: supplement — something added
  • Polish: dodatek — something added
  • Polish: uzupełnienie — something added
  • Portuguese: suplemento — something added
  • Portuguese: adendo — something added
  • Slovene: dodatek — something added
  • Spanish: suplemento — something added
  • Arabic: ملحق — extension to a document or publication
  • Armenian: հավելված (havelvac) — extension to a document or publication
  • Armenian: լրացում (lracʻum) — extension to a document or publication
  • Bulgarian: приложе́ние (priložénie) — extension to a document or publication
  • Czech: dodatek — extension to a document or publication
  • Dutch: aanvulling — extension to a document or publication
  • Dutch: bijlage — extension to a document or publication
  • Dutch: errata — extension to a document or publication
  • Esperanto: aldono — extension to a document or publication
  • Estonian: täiendus — extension to a document or publication
  • Finnish: liite — extension to a document or publication
  • German: Nachtrag — extension to a document or publication
  • German: (appendix) Anhang — extension to a document or publication
  • German: Supplement — extension to a document or publication
  • German: Supplementband — extension to a document or publication
  • Greek: συμπλήρωμα (symplíroma) — extension to a document or publication
  • Greek: παράρτημα (parártima) — extension to a document or publication
  • Irish: forbhia — extension to a document or publication
  • Macedonian: при́лог (prílog) — extension to a document or publication
  • Māori: āpiti — extension to a document or publication
  • Norwegian Bokmål: supplement — extension to a document or publication
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: supplement — extension to a document or publication
  • Persian: ویژهنامه (vižanâma) — extension to a document or publication
  • Polish: suplement — extension to a document or publication
  • Portuguese: suplemento — extension to a document or publication
  • Portuguese: adendo — extension to a document or publication
  • Russian: приложе́ние (priložénije) — extension to a document or publication
  • Slovene: dodatek — extension to a document or publication
  • Spanish: suplemento — extension to a document or publication
  • Bulgarian: притурка (priturka) — additional section of a newspaper
  • Dutch: supplement — additional section of a newspaper
  • Dutch: bijlage — additional section of a newspaper
  • Esperanto: aldono — additional section of a newspaper
  • Finnish: liite — additional section of a newspaper
  • French: supplément — additional section of a newspaper
  • German: Beilage — additional section of a newspaper
  • Greek: παράρτημα (parártima) — additional section of a newspaper
  • Icelandic: fylgirit — additional section of a newspaper
  • Italian: inserto — additional section of a newspaper
  • Italian: supplemento — additional section of a newspaper
  • Māori: āpiti — additional section of a newspaper
  • Norwegian Bokmål: supplement — additional section of a newspaper
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: supplement — additional section of a newspaper
  • Persian: ویژهنامه (vižanâma) — additional section of a newspaper
  • Portuguese: suplemento — additional section of a newspaper
  • Russian: приложе́ние (priložénije) — additional section of a newspaper
  • Slovene: priloga — additional section of a newspaper
  • Swedish: bilaga — additional section of a newspaper
  • Vietnamese: phụ trương — additional section of a newspaper
  • Bulgarian: допълнителен ъгъл (dopǎlnitelen ǎgǎl) — supplementary angle in geometry
  • Chinese Mandarin: 補角 /补角 (bǔjiǎo) — supplementary angle in geometry
  • Czech: doplněk — supplementary angle in geometry
  • Dutch: supplement — supplementary angle in geometry
  • Finnish: suplementti — supplementary angle in geometry
  • Finnish: suplementtikulma — supplementary angle in geometry
  • Greek: παραπλήρωμα (paraplíroma) — supplementary angle in geometry
  • Italian: angolo supplementare — supplementary angle in geometry
  • Portuguese: suplemento — supplementary angle in geometry
  • Russian: дополни́тельный у́гол (dopolnítelʹnyj úgol) — supplementary angle in geometry
  • Spanish: suplementario — supplementary angle in geometry
  • Tagalog: kaladlad — supplementary angle in geometry
  • Arabic: مُكَمِّل (mukammil) — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Bulgarian: добавка (dobavka) — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Chinese Mandarin: 補充劑 /补充剂 (bǔchōngjì) — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Chinese Mandarin: 補劑 /补剂 (bǔjì) — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Czech: doplněk — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Dutch: voedingssupplement — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Finnish: ravintolisä — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Finnish: lisäravinne — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • German: Ergänzungsmittel — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • German: Supplement — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Greek: συμπλήρωμα (symplíroma) — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Italian: integratore — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Korean: 보충제 (bochungje) — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Norwegian Bokmål: tilskudd — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Norwegian Bokmål: supplement — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: supplement — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Persian: مکمل (mokammel) — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Polish: suplement — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Polish: odżywka — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Portuguese: suplemento — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Russian: дополне́ние (dopolnénije) — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Russian: доба́вка (dobávka) — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Slovene: dodatek — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Welsh: atchwanegiad — vitamin, herbal extract, or chemical compound — see also dietary supplement
  • Bulgarian: допълвам (dopǎlvam) — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Catalan: suplementar — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Catalan: complementar — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Chinese Mandarin: 增補 /增补 (zēngbǔ) — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Chinese Mandarin: 補充 /补充 (bǔchōng) — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Dutch: aanvullen — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Dutch: suppleren — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Finnish: täydentää — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Finnish: lisätä — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Galician: suplementar — to provide or make a supplement to
  • German: aufstocken — to provide or make a supplement to
  • German: aufbessern — to provide or make a supplement to
  • German: ergänzen — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Greek: συμπληρώνω (sympliróno) — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Irish: folíon — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Italian: integrare — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Māori: āpiti — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Māori: whakarawaka — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Māori: whakakaurahi — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Portuguese: suplementar — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Russian: дополня́ть (dopolnjátʹ) — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Slovene: dopolniti — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Spanish: complementar — to provide or make a supplement to
  • Spanish: suplementar — to provide or make a supplement to
Real reading context

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