Definitions
- Referring to something that is subordinate or secondary in importance. - Describing something that is additional or supportive to the main thing. - Talking about something that is auxiliary or providing backup to the primary thing.
- Referring to something that is added to enhance or complete the main thing. - Describing something that is extra or additional to the primary thing. - Talking about something that is complementary or providing further information to the main thing.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words refer to something that is additional or supportive to the main thing.
- 2Both words can be used as adjectives or nouns.
- 3Both words are used to describe something that is not essential but helpful or beneficial.
What is the difference?
- 1Usage: Ancillary is more commonly used in the context of support staff or materials, while supplementary is more commonly used in the context of additional information or resources.
- 2Importance: Ancillary implies something that is subordinate or secondary in importance, while supplementary implies something that is added to enhance or complete the main thing.
- 3Purpose: Ancillary emphasizes the idea of providing backup or auxiliary support, while supplementary emphasizes the idea of adding something extra or complementary.
- 4Connotation: Ancillary can have a negative connotation of being less important or inferior, while supplementary has a neutral or positive connotation of being helpful or beneficial.
Remember this!
While both ancillary and supplementary refer to something that is additional or supportive to the main thing, they differ in their usage, importance, purpose, etymology, and connotation. Ancillary is more commonly used in the context of support staff or materials, implying something that is subordinate or secondary in importance and providing backup or auxiliary support. On the other hand, supplementary is more commonly used in the context of additional information or resources, implying something that is added to enhance or complete the main thing and having a neutral or positive connotation of being helpful or beneficial.
