What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
supplemental
Example
The company offers a supplemental insurance policy for employees. [supplemental: adjective]
Example
The teacher provided supplemental materials to help the students understand the lesson better. [supplemental: adjective]
supplementary
Example
The textbook includes supplementary chapters on advanced topics. [supplementary: adjective]
Example
The professor provided supplementary readings to supplement the course material. [supplementary: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Supplementary is slightly more common than supplemental in everyday language, but both words are used interchangeably in many contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between supplemental and supplementary?
Both supplemental and supplementary are formal words that are commonly used in academic, professional, or technical writing. However, supplemental may be slightly more formal due to its association with legal or financial documents.
