supplement
gb/sˈʌpləmənt/ us/sˈʌpləmənt/
B1
English
~ 5100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
something extra that is added
Something extra that you add to another thing to make it better or more complete.
Usage pattern:
a supplement to [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "supplement" with "complement". A "supplement" is something extra that is added on, while a "complement" is something that goes well with something else or completes it in a matching way.
Synonyms
addition (Neutral and very common; does not suggest improvement as strongly as "supplement" can.)
|
extra (More informal and general; any added amount, not always to complete something.)
Antonyms
main (Refers to the primary or central part, not something secondary or added on.)
Collocations
a supplement to
|salary supplement
|cash supplement
|supplement to the report
|supplement to the manual
Themes
daily life
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Examples
- The cash supplement helped low-income families cover their heating bills.
- Teachers receive a small supplement to their pay for working night classes.
- We published an online supplement to provide more detailed data.
- The company offered a housing supplement for staff moving to the city.
- This workbook is designed as a supplement to the main coursebook.
Learner examples
- She gets a small supplement to her salary each month.
- The DVD has a booklet as a supplement to the movie.
- We wrote a short supplement to explain the new rules.
- He needs a money supplement because his pay is low.
- This guide is a useful supplement to the textbook.
Noun
B1
entity
2
pill or product with nutrients
A pill, drink, or powder that gives you extra vitamins or other good things for your body, on top of your normal food.
Usage pattern:
take a supplement for [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "supplement" means normal medicine. A supplement is usually for extra nutrition or health support, not for treating a specific illness like most medicines.
Synonyms
vitamin pill (Focuses especially on vitamins, while "supplement" can also include minerals, protein, and other nutrients.)
|
nutritional supplement (A more technical and often broader term used in health and medical contexts.)
Antonyms
main meal (Your regular food, which is the primary source of nutrition, not something extra like a pill or powder.)
Collocations
dietary supplement
|vitamin supplement
|herbal supplement
|protein supplement
|take supplements
Themes
health
|nutrition
|food_drink
Examples
- She takes an iron supplement because her iron levels are low.
- Many athletes use a protein supplement after training.
- Your doctor may recommend a vitamin D supplement in winter.
- Some people prefer herbal supplements to prescription drugs.
- This dietary supplement is not a substitute for a healthy diet.
Learner examples
- I take a vitamin supplement every morning.
- He drinks a protein supplement after the gym.
- My doctor told me to take a calcium supplement.
- She buys an herbal supplement for better sleep.
- These pills are a supplement, not real food.
Noun
B2
entity
3
extra section of a publication
An extra part of a newspaper, magazine, or book that comes with the main part and usually has a special topic.
Usage pattern:
a [topic] supplement to [a newspaper or magazine]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with a separate magazine. A supplement is usually attached to or sold with the main newspaper or magazine, not sold completely on its own.
Synonyms
insert (A loose section placed inside a newspaper or magazine; more technical and publishing-focused.)
|
pull-out (Informal publishing term for a section you can remove from the main paper.)
Antonyms
main edition (The central, regular part of the newspaper or magazine, not the extra added sections.)
Collocations
weekend supplement
|travel supplement
|color supplement
|Sunday supplement
|special supplement
Themes
media
|business
|communication
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The newspaper includes a weekend supplement with long feature articles.
- There was a free travel supplement inside yesterday’s paper.
- The magazine is publishing a special supplement on climate change.
- Subscribers receive a monthly business supplement at no extra cost.
- The color supplement focuses on lifestyle and culture.
Learner examples
- The Sunday paper has a big TV supplement.
- I bought the magazine for its fashion supplement.
- This book comes with a study supplement at the back.
- The travel supplement shows cheap holidays.
- There is a jobs supplement in today’s newspaper.
Verb
formal
C1
action
4
to add extra to improve
To add more to something so that it is better, more complete, or enough.
Usage pattern:
to supplement [something] with [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "complete" instead of "supplement". "Complete" means to finish something so that nothing is missing, while "supplement" means to add extra, often when something is already basically complete.
Synonyms
add to (More general and informal; does not always suggest improving or completing something in a careful way.)
|
top up (Informal; usually about adding enough to reach a desired level, especially money or drink.)
Antonyms
reduce (Means to make something smaller or less, which is the opposite of adding more to it.)
Collocations
supplement income
|supplement their diet
|supplement the text
|supplement existing data
|supplement your studies
Themes
work
|education
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Examples
- Many students supplement their income with part-time jobs.
- We need to supplement the report with more recent figures.
- The teacher supplemented the textbook with online videos.
- They supplement their diet with fresh fruit and vegetables.
- The charity funds were supplemented by private donations.
Learner examples
- He works at night to supplement his pay.
- We will supplement the list with new names.
- She supplements her diet with vitamin tablets.
- The company supplemented the plan with extra details.
- I use online videos to supplement my English lessons.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
5
angle that completes 180 degrees
In math, an angle that, together with another angle, makes 180 degrees.
Usage pattern:
the supplement of [an angle]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "supplement" with "complement" in geometry. Remember: supplement = sum 180°, complement = sum 90°.
Synonyms
supplementary angle (A closely related term; often used in the pair "supplementary angles" rather than as a single "supplement".)
Antonyms
complement (In geometry, an angle that adds to 90 degrees with another angle, in contrast to a supplement that adds to 180 degrees.)
Collocations
the supplement of an angle
|find the supplement
|angle's supplement
|supplement and complement
Themes
mathematics
|education
|science
Examples
- If one angle is 60 degrees, its supplement is 120 degrees.
- The supplement of an acute angle is always obtuse.
- You can find the supplement by subtracting the angle from 180 degrees.
Learner examples
- The supplement of 70 degrees is 110 degrees.
- In this exercise you must find the supplement of each angle.
- An angle and its supplement together make a straight line.
Grammar
Dictionary form
supplement
IPA
GB/sˈʌpləmənt/
US/sˈʌpləmənt/
Syllables & stress
sup - ple - ment (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sup)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: supplement
- Plural: supplements
Verb
- Base: supplement
- 3rd Person Singular: supplements
- Present Participle: supplementing
- Past: supplemented
Word family
Forms
supplements
noun
supplementing
verb
supplemented
verb
Core family
supplementary
adjective B2
Related words
supplemental
adjective B2
supplementation
noun
Expressions
dietary supplement
1/dˈaɪətˌɛɹi sˈʌpləmənt/
fixed phrase
nutrient product taken with diet
A pill, drink, or powder that you take to give your body extra nutrients in addition to normal food.
Examples
- Always talk to your doctor before starting a new dietary supplement.
- This dietary supplement claims to boost your immune system.
food supplement
1/fˈud sˈʌpləmənt/
fixed phrase
extra product eaten for nutrients
A product you eat or drink, in addition to normal meals, to give your body more nutrients.
Examples
- The doctor recommended a food supplement for the undernourished children.
- This powder is sold as a natural food supplement.
protein supplement
1/pɹˈoʊtˌin sˈʌpləmənt/
fixed phrase
product that adds extra protein
A drink, powder, or bar that gives you extra protein.
Examples
- Many gym-goers use a protein supplement after workouts.
- Her doctor advised her to take a protein supplement while recovering.
single supplement
1/sˈɪŋɡəl sˈʌpləmənt/
fixed phrase
extra charge for single occupancy
An extra amount of money you must pay if you stay alone in a hotel room that is usually for two people.
Examples
- The holiday price does not include the single supplement.
- She had to pay a single supplement to have a room to herself.
supplement your income
1/sˌʌpləmˈɛnt jˈʊɹ ˈɪŋkˌʌm/
fixed phrase
earn money in addition to salary
To get extra money from another job or source in addition to your normal pay.
Examples
- He drives a taxi at night to supplement his income.
- Many people supplement their income with online freelance work.
travel supplement
1/tɹˈævəl sˈʌpləmənt/
fixed phrase
extra fee on travel price
An extra amount of money added to the normal price of a ticket or holiday.
Examples
- A travel supplement applies during the peak season.
- There is a travel supplement for departures from smaller airports.
vitamin supplement
1/vˈaɪtəmən sˈʌpləmənt/
fixed phrase
supplement containing mainly vitamins
A pill or liquid that gives you extra vitamins.
Examples
- She takes a vitamin supplement during the winter.
- This vitamin supplement is especially rich in vitamin C.
herbal supplement
3/ˈɚbəl sˈʌpləmənt/
fixed phrase
herb-based product taken as supplement
A product made from herbs, often in pills or capsules, that people take to add extra nutrients or health benefits to their normal food.
Examples
- She prefers herbal supplements to chemical medicines.
- Always talk to your doctor before taking any herbal supplement.
- This herbal supplement is advertised as a natural sleep aid.
- She takes an herbal supplement every morning for her joints.
- The label on this herbal supplement warns against using it during pregnancy.