supplemented

Supplemented is the past participle form of the verb supplement and, when used as an adjective, describes something that has been augmented by adding extra elements. It implies that additional components were provided after the original form or content to improve or complete it.

Originating from the Latin supplementum, the word entered English via Old French and Middle English. The core sense involves adding to make up a deficiency or to extend capabilities beyond what is inherent.

In nutrition, a supplemented diet or supplemented foods contain added nutrients beyond a baseline level. This can refer to vitamins, minerals, amino acids, or other compounds provided to address dietary gaps, and is related to but distinct from fortification, which typically refers to enrichment during processing.

In research and data contexts, data or materials are described as supplemented when they have been augmented with extra observations, variables, or auxiliary data. Publications often distinguish supplementary materials and datasets that accompany the main article, intended to provide additional detail without altering the core results.

Additional uses include agriculture and veterinary medicine, where animal feeds are supplemented with minerals or vitamins; ecology, where ecosystems may be supplemented with nutrients to study responses. The term preserves the core idea of enhancement through supplemental input.

See also: supplement, supplementation, supplementary.