Origin: Latin suffix -ment
Supplement has 8 different meanings across 2 categories:
textual matter that is added onto a publication; usually at the end
"The magazine included a small supplement at the back featuring interview questions and answers from the guest speaker."
a quantity added (e.g. to make up for a deficiency)
"He took a vitamin supplement every day to make up for his lack of sunlight exposure during winter."
a supplementary component that improves capability
"The new software update acts as a crucial supplement to our existing security system, significantly improving its ability to detect advanced threats."
Something added, especially to make up for a deficiency.
"The doctor recommended taking calcium supplements because his diet lacked enough dairy products."
In plain English: A supplement is something extra added to your regular food or routine to give you more of what you need.
"I take a vitamin supplement every morning to stay healthy."
add to the very end
"He appended a glossary to his novel where he used an invented language"
To provide or make a supplement to something.
"The teacher decided to supplement the textbook with interactive videos to help students grasp the complex concepts better."
In plain English: To supplement something means to add more of it to make up for what is missing.
"She supplements her income by tutoring students on weekends."
Usage: Use this verb when adding extra information, nutrients, or items to complete an existing whole rather than replacing it entirely. It is often confused with synonyms like "add," but implies the addition serves as a necessary support for what already exists.
The word supplement comes from the Latin supplementum, meaning "that which is added to supply a shortage." It entered English through French in the 16th century, originally referring to material inserted into a book or document to fill a gap.