supplementation
suh-pluh-men-TAY-shuhn
/ˌsʌplɪmenˈteɪʃən/
The act of adding something to complete or enhance a diet or process.
Usually refers to taking pills or powders to get nutrients that are missing from whole foods.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'supplere', meaning 'to fill up' or 'to make full'. It comes from 'sub-' (up to) and 'plere' (to fill). It’s the act of filling a gap that was left empty.
Word relationships
- addition: A very general term.
- reduction: The act of making something smaller or less.
Commonly confused with
- complement: A complement completes something to make it perfect; a supplement adds to what is already there.
Word family
- supplement (noun/verb): Something that completes or enhances; to add to.
- supplementary (adjective): Completing or enhancing something.
Collocations
- dietary supplementation
- vitamin supplementation
- iron supplementation
Example sentences
- "Vitamin supplementation may be necessary for those with restricted diets or specific medical conditions." Medical advice regarding nutrition. (Mayo Clinic Health Information)
- "The athlete's use of protein supplementation helped speed up muscle recovery after intense workouts." Discussing athletic performance.
Memory hook
Think of a 'supply'—supplementation provides a 'supply' of what you're missing. Supplementation fills the 'supply' gap.
When not to use
Don't use it to mean 'replacement'; a supplement should be an addition to, not a substitute for, a healthy diet.
Fun facts
- The global dietary supplement market is worth over 150 billion dollars annually.
Related words
Explore more words
supplement, supplementary, complement, fortified, complementary, complementation
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.