supplemental

adjective

sup·​ple·​men·​tal ˌsə-plə-ˈmen-tᵊl 

1

: serving to supplement

2

: nonscheduled

a supplemental airline

supplemental noun

Synonyms

• auxiliary
• additional
• supplementary
• accessory
• peripheral

Examples of supplemental in a Sentence

She receives a supplemental income every month from the government.

the new program will provide supplemental health insurance to thousands of workers

Recent Examples on the Web

Simply, if high-major programs are to sustain their current roster budgets, then supplemental collective money is a necessity. —Brendan Marks, New York Times, 24 July 2025

Managing lawns this way helps reduce supplemental water needs during critical times and can be an effective way of managing watering restrictions. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 July 2025

So are there benefits to taking a supplemental form of it? —Erica Sloan, SELF, 21 July 2025

The regional differences in cost of living mean where Americans choose to live and retire can significantly affect how far these benefits go—dictating whether their retirement is defined by security or financial strain—which is of critical importance to those with limited supplemental savings. —Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

supplement entry 1 + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for supplemental

• accidental
• compartmental
• continental
• detrimental
• elemental
• fundamental
• governmental
• incidental
• incremental
• instrumental
• interdental
• monumental

Medical Definition

supplemental

adjective

sup·​ple·​men·​tal ˌsəp-lə-ˈment-ᵊl 

: serving to supplement : supplementary

Legal Definition

supplemental

adjective

sup·​ple·​men·​tal ˌsə-plə-ˈment-ᵊl 

: serving to complete or make an addition

supplemental appropriations

specifically : of, relating to, or being a supplemental pleading

supplemental noun