supplementary
sup-luh-MEN-tree
/ˌsʌp.lɪˈmɛn.tər.i/
Provided in addition to what is already present to complete, extend, or enhance it.
Emphasizes the secondary, auxiliary, or extra nature of an addition.
The story behind the word. Coined in the late 18th century as an adjective derived from 'supplement', quickly becoming a staple of legal, academic, and parliamentary procedure for extra, non-baseline materials.
Word relationships
- auxiliary: 'Auxiliary' implies giving help or support, whereas 'supplementary' emphasizes adding extra material.
- additional: 'Additional' is general, while 'supplementary' specifically implies filling a remaining gap.
- primary: 'Primary' refers to the main component, whereas 'supplementary' is secondary and additive.
Commonly confused with
- complimentary: 'Supplementary' means additional; 'complimentary' means free of charge or expressing praise.
Word family
- supplement (noun/verb): An addition; to add.
Collocations
- supplementary question
- supplementary evidence
- supplementary budget
Example sentences
- "The professor provided supplementary reading materials to help students prepare for the difficult final examination." Education
- "The legal team submitted a supplementary brief to address new evidence presented during the tribunal." Legal proceedings
Memory hook
SUPPLEMENT-ary = extra material SUPPLIED. Supplementary materials add extra info.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'complimentary' (free/praising) or 'complementary' (mutually perfecting).
Fun facts
- In parliamentary systems, a 'supplementary question' is an immediate follow-up question allowed to probe a minister's initial answer.
Related words
Explore more words
ancillary, byproduct, provisional, supple, subsequent, subplot
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.