Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Added to complete or make up a deficiency: Something that is "supplementary" is provided in addition to what already exists, in order to make it complete or to compensate for a lack.
   • Functioning in a supporting capacity: Describes something that provides additional help or support, but is not the primary or main element.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The teacher provided supplementary materials for students who wanted to learn more.
  • Your regular salary is fixed; bonuses are supplementary income.
  • The report has a supplementary appendix containing all the raw data.

Advanced Usage

• "Supplementary to": Used to indicate what the addition is related to.
  • This grant is supplementary to the main research funding.
• In formal or technical contexts, such as education ("supplementary exam"), publishing ("supplementary volume"), or nutrition ("supplementary vitamins").

Variants and Related Words

• Supplement (n/v): The thing that is added, or the act of adding it.
  • The newspaper publishes a weekly travel supplement.
  • She supplements her diet with vitamin C.
• Supplemental (adj): Often used interchangeably with "supplementary," especially in American English.
  • Congress approved supplemental funding for the disaster relief.

Synonyms

• Additional: Added extra.
• Auxiliary: Providing supplementary help.
• Extra: More than is usual or necessary.
• Complementary: Combining in such a way as to enhance or emphasize the qualities of something else (note: this can imply a more integral relationship than "supplementary").

Related Phrases

• Supplementary angle: (Geometry) Either of two angles whose sum is 180°.
• Supplementary benefit: (Historical UK term) A state benefit paid to people with an income below a certain level.
• Supplementary question: (In parliamentary procedure) A follow-up question asked after the main question.

Adjective

1. added to complete or make up a deficiency
   • produced supplementary volumes
2. functioning in a supporting capacity
   • the main library and its auxiliary branches