adj
Uncommon
supplementary
Supplementary (adj) means Added to provide something extra that was needed. Example: “Students received supplementary notes before the exam.”
adj
1
Added to provide something extra that was needed.
"Students received supplementary notes before the exam."
"The government issued supplementary guidance on the new rules."
How to use supplementary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAdditional, added to complete or reinforce the main thing.
Common mistake
Very close in meaning to "supplemental" — supplementary is more common in British English and formal contexts.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
supplementary material
supplementary information
supplementary angle
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Word forms
- Plural
- supplementaries
- Comparative
- more supplementary
- Superlative
- most supplementary
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Students received _____ notes before the exam.
Etymology
From supplement + -ary; compare French supplémentaire.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for supplementary
See all rhymes for supplementary →Frequently asked questions
What does “supplementary” mean?
The word “supplementary” means added to provide something extra that was needed. In plain terms, additional, added to complete or reinforce the main thing.
How do you use “supplementary” in a sentence?
Here is “supplementary” used in a sentence: “Students received supplementary notes before the exam.”
What part of speech is “supplementary”?
“Supplementary” is an adjective.
Where does the word “supplementary” come from?
The word “supplementary” comes from French. From supplement + -ary; compare French supplémentaire.
Is “supplementary” a common word?
“Supplementary” is an uncommon word in modern English.
