supplemental

adjective

sup·​ple·​men·​tal ˌsə-plə-ˈmen-tᵊl 

1

: serving to supplement

2

: nonscheduled

a supplemental airline

supplemental noun

Synonyms of supplemental

• 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

The ZipRecruiter survey found that about 45% of those earning more than $150,000 do supplemental work, compared to about 31% of workers earning less than $25,000 and about 31% of those earning between $25,000 and $50,000. —Rachel Barber, USA Today, 29 May 2026

Food insecurity during the pandemic was offset in part by government relief payments and supplemental unemployment benefits, but those have long since ended. —Scott Horsley, NPR, 27 May 2026

The main use of supplemental vitamin K is to treat a vitamin K deficiency, which is rare in the United States. —Beth Thomas, Verywell Health, 27 May 2026

Sovann has had a series of procedures to clear her lungs and keeps supplemental oxygen in her backpack. —Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 26 May 2026

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