complementary

American  

[kom-pluh-men-tuh-ree, -tree] / ˌkɒm pləˈmɛn tə ri, -tri /

adjective

1. forming a complement; completing.

2. complementing each other.

---

noun

• complementaries
  plural

1. complementary color.

complementary British  

/ ˌkɒmplɪˈmɛntərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

1. acting as or forming a complement; completing

2. forming a satisfactory or balanced whole

3. forming a mathematical complement

   sine and cosine are complementary functions

4. maths logic (of a pair of sets, etc) mutually exclusive and exhaustive, each being the complement of the other

5. (of genes) producing an effect in association with other genes

6. involving or using the treatments and techniques of complementary medicine

---

Usage

What’s the difference between complementary and complimentary? Complementary is an adjective used to describe something that complements something else—goes along with it and serves to make it better or complete it (as in complementary colors). Complimentary is an adjective that can describe something intended to be a compliment—a comment that expresses praise or admiration of someone (as in a complimentary remark). It can also be used to mean that something is given for free, as in I hope we get complimentary snacks on this flight. Since the primary senses of both words are generally used in positive contexts, it can be easy to confuse them. The easiest way to remember the difference is that complementary often involves something that completes something else, and complete also starts with c-o-m-p-l-e. On the other hand, you can remember that complimentary is spelled with an i because compliments are something that I like to get (and give). Nice shirt, by the way. Here’s an example of complementary and complimentary used correctly in the same sentence. Example: Sometimes, when the chef overhears complimentary feedback about a dish, she sends out a complimentary bottle of wine—one that’s complementary to the rest of the meal, of course. Want to learn more? Read about the difference between compliment and complement.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• complementariness
  noun
• uncomplementary
  adjective
• complementarily
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• complementaries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of complementary

First recorded in 1590–1600; complement + -ary

Explanation

If something is complementary, then it somehow completes or enhances the qualities of something else. If your beautiful voice is completely complementary to your brother's song writing skills, you should form a family band! You’ve probably heard of “complementary colors,” colors that are opposite in hue on the color wheel but actually go well together. When combined, they make a harmonious palette. People’s personalities can also be complementary, as can certain food pairings. But be careful not to confuse this adjective with the closely spelled complimentary, which means “supplied free of charge.”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

complementary complementaries

Conservation and fire prevention are therefore complementary objectives, not competing ones.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

The company has begun weighing a complementary offering that could be built around advertising sales.

From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026

Throughout the day, fans crossed the grounds in bright Latin American soccer jerseys, the eye-catching complementary greens and reds of Mexico and the rich blue of El Salvador dotting the crowd.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

Each pathway filled a different combination of energy levels within zinc-70, allowing researchers to observe its nuclear structure from two complementary perspectives.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 31, 2026

Some of the littluns started a ring on their own; and the complementary circles went round and round as though repetition would achieve safety of itself.

From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

But just as much as complementaries, van Gogh loved using colors that are adjacent on the color wheel.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 12, 2019

This novel about young Ged’s education in both magic and self-understanding relies throughout on Taoist notions of complementaries — the balance between light and dark, speech and silence, self and shadow.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 3, 2016

This symbolism is obvious when we take into our consciousness the truth that only complementaries have the power to act and react, without change, or loss.

From Sex--The Unknown Quantity The Spiritual Function of Sex by Alexander J. (Alexander James) McIvor-Tyndall

In the same way mix the two complementaries yellow and blue to produce a gray; mix red and green in the same way.

From The Mind and Its Education by George Herbert Betts

Cosmic reaction has set in, and union between complementaries is the result.

From Sex--The Unknown Quantity The Spiritual Function of Sex by Alexander J. (Alexander James) McIvor-Tyndall

Related Words

• integral
• interdependent
• reciprocal