suppletion

noun

sup·​ple·​tion sə-ˈplē-shən How to pronounce suppletion (audio)
: the occurrence of phonemically unrelated allomorphs of the same morpheme (such as went as the past tense of go or better as the comparative form of good)
suppletive
sə-ˈplē-tiv How to pronounce suppletion (audio)
ˈsə-plə-
adjective

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "making good a deficiency, supplementation," going back to Middle English supplecioun "supplement, recompense," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French suppleciun "supplement, addition," borrowed from Medieval Latin supplētiōn-, supplētiō "filling up, compensation, supplying, provision," going back to Late Latin, "completion, complement," from Latin supplēre "to fill up, complete, raise to its full complement" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at supply entry 2

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of suppletion was in 1909

Rhymes for suppletion

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Browse Nearby Words

suppleness
suppletion
suppletive
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Cite this Entry

“Suppletion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suppletion. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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