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

In December 2021, however, the DOL under the Biden administration issued a supplemental statement, contending that most plan fiduciaries were not suited to evaluate alternative investments, given their complexity and high risk. — Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026

Previous strategies for growing plants on Mars included rinsing these poisons out, bringing supplemental fertilizers from Earth, or avoiding Martian soil entirely and using hydroponics. — Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 9 Oct. 2026

In addition, they were each charged with grand theft of Siira’s supplemental security income. — Idaho Statesman, 9 Oct. 2026

Caltrans spokesperson Eric Menjivar said in an email Tuesday that at least some of the repairs are on hold as the agency obtains supplemental funding through an internal review process to finish the repairs. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 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