Supplement

This meaning is about pills, powders, or drinks containing vitamins, minerals, or other nutrients you take to stay healthy. Imagine someone who doesn’t eat much fish. Their doctor suggests taking an omega-3 supplement to make up for what’s missing in their diet. This is a dietary supplement — extra nutrition in pill or powder form. You might hear “she takes iron supplements every morning” or “the gym sells protein supplements for muscle recovery.” Or picture a shelf in a pharmacy packed with supplements for everything from hair growth to joint health. The word points to something that fills a nutritional gap. ✏️ “Dietary supplements” and “food supplements” are the most common phrases — they cover vitamins, minerals, protein powders, and herbal products.

This meaning is about an extra part that comes with a newspaper or magazine, usually covering a specific topic. Imagine buying your Saturday newspaper and finding a glossy travel supplement tucked inside, full of holiday destinations and hotel reviews. This is a supplement — a bonus section that comes with the main publication. You might say “the newspaper includes a fashion supplement every Sunday” or “there’s a special supplement on the best restaurants in the city.” Or think about a weekend paper that comes with a colour supplement full of lifestyle articles. The word suggests extra content alongside the main edition. ✏️ “Sunday supplements” and “colour supplements” are the most common types — they’re the magazine-style sections that come with weekend newspapers.

This meaning is about extra pages added to a book to provide more information or correct mistakes. Imagine buying a dictionary and finding a supplement at the back with hundreds of new words that didn’t exist when the book was first published. This is a supplement — added content that updates or extends the original work. You might read “a supplement to the encyclopedia was published the following year” or “the textbook includes a supplement with updated statistics.” Or think about a medical handbook where a supplement covers new treatments discovered since the first edition. The word suggests useful bonus material. ✏️ Unlike an “appendix,” which is usually planned from the start, a supplement is typically added later to fill gaps or update the original content.

This meaning is about extra money you have to pay on top of a basic price. Imagine booking a holiday for two people and then discovering there’s a supplement if you want a room with a sea view instead of a standard one. This is a supplement — an added cost for something extra. You might see “single rooms are available at a supplement of £15 per night” or “there’s a small supplement for express delivery.” Or think about flying economy class and paying a supplement to choose a seat with more legroom. The word suggests an optional extra that comes at a price. ✏️ “Single supplement” is extremely common in travel — it’s the extra fee solo travellers pay because they’re not sharing a room.

This meaning is about adding something extra to improve what you already have. Imagine a university student whose scholarship covers tuition but not living costs. She supplements her income by working part-time at a café on weekends. This is supplementing — adding to something that isn’t quite enough on its own. You might say “he supplements his salary by freelancing” or “she supplements her diet with vitamins and fresh fruit.” Or picture a teacher who supplements the textbook with videos and real-life examples to make lessons more engaging. The word suggests making something more complete. ✏️ The most common patterns are “supplement something with something” and “supplement your income/diet” — both appear constantly in everyday English.