supplemental

adjective

sup·​ple·​men·​tal ˌsə-plə-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce supplemental (audio)
Synonyms of supplementalnext
1
: serving to supplement
2
: nonscheduled
a supplemental airline
supplemental noun

Synonyms of supplemental

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Aside from California, the other states with the highest housing cost impact on the supplemental poverty measure are Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Washington. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026 High-profile essays like hers are reframing lobular carcinoma from clinical footnote to mainstream concern, and that reframing tends to drive demand for supplemental screening. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026 Douthat himself describes this project as speculative historical fiction, and the data-dumping, supplemental world-building documents are certainly dense with history and archangels. — James Folta, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026 In Sun Valley, Idaho, guests are privy to an encounter with mountaineer Ed Viesturs, known for climbing all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for supplemental

Word History

Etymology

supplement entry 1 + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of supplemental was in 1605

Rhymes for supplemental

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Browse Nearby Words

supplement
supplemental
supplemental irrigation
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Cite this Entry

“Supplemental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supplemental. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Medical Definition

supplemental

adjective
sup·​ple·​men·​tal ˌsəp-lə-ˈment-ᵊl How to pronounce supplemental (audio)
: serving to supplement : supplementary

Legal Definition

supplemental

adjective
sup·​ple·​men·​tal ˌsə-plə-ˈment-ᵊl How to pronounce supplemental (audio)
: serving to complete or make an addition
supplemental appropriations
specifically : of, relating to, or being a supplemental pleading
supplemental noun
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