congratulatory

American

[kuhn-grach-uh-luh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, -graj-, kuhng-] / kənˈgrætʃ ə ləˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, -ˈgrædʒ-, kəŋ- /

adjective

expressing or conveying congratulations.

a congratulatory telegram.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of congratulatory

1515–25; < Medieval Latin congrātulātōrius, equivalent to Latin congrātulā ( rī ) ( see congratulate) + -tōrious -tory ¹

Vocabulary lists containing congratulatory

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A second cable in August 1858 successfully carried congratulatory messages between Queen Victoria and President James Buchanan and was hailed by the New York Times as “the great event of the age.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

He has always been congratulatory of me, almost proud of me in a sense.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Xi sent a "congratulatory message" to Doumbouya on Sunday, state news agency Xinhua reported.

From Barron's • Jan. 5, 2026

They traded congratulatory speeches and cut into a sheet cake.

From Salon • Dec. 16, 2025

When I snuck a peek at Abbey, she gave me a congratulatory wink.

From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023