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

Even the heartiest of travelers can experience altitude sickness there and may require supplemental oxygen. — Carrie Kahn, NPR, 7 Nov. 2026

All public school educators receive supplemental pay through the property tax, but exactly how much depends on their years spent teaching. — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026

Water scarcity depletes grain, grass, and other plants that cows eat, forcing ranchers to either buy supplemental feed or thin their herds to keep afloat financially. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 2 Nov. 2026

The administration made the fiscally responsible decision to incorporate these proceeds into its supplemental pension payment as part of a balanced budget that also maintains funding for critical services and neighborhood investments. — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 2 Nov. 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