additional

Imagine you're building with LEGO bricks and realize you need just one more brick to finish your castle. That extra brick is additional. "Additional" describes something added beyond what was already there—a little bit more of whatever you're talking about. You might ask for an additional side dish at dinner or pay an additional fee for faster shipping. Whether it's required to complete a set or just a nice bonus, it increases the original amount.

The word "additional" functions as an adjective describing something that is added to something else—a supplement, an extra amount, or something beyond what is usual or expected. It implies that there was already a base quantity and this is in addition to it.

You'll often encounter "additional" when discussing costs: "There will be an additional charge for room service." It frequently appears with time: "The project will require an additional two weeks to complete." It can also refer to information or resources: "For more details, please see the additional materials provided."

You may also see it in phrases like "additional to": "This fee is additional to the standard price."

Think of adding sprinkles to ice cream—the ice cream is good on its own, but the sprinkles are an additional touch. However, unlike sprinkles, sometimes "additional" things are actually necessary, such as needing "additional funding" to keep a business running.

Grammatically, you will almost always find it sitting right before a noun. For example: "The additional staff were hired to cope with the increased workload." In this case, it modifies "staff," telling us that these people are extra help added on top of the existing team.

So, whenever you're talking about something being added on top of what already exists—whether it's time, money, information, or sprinkles—think of "additional." It signifies an increase, a supplement, and a little bit more.