complementarity
Americannoun
noun
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a state or system that involves complementary components
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physics the principle that the complete description of a phenomenon in microphysics requires the use of two distinct theories that are complementary to each other See also duality
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The concept that the underlying properties of entities (especially subatomic particles) may manifest themselves in contradictory forms at different times, depending on the conditions of observation; thus, any physical model of an entity exclusively in terms of one form or the other will be necessarily incomplete. For example, although a unified quantum mechanical understanding of such phenomena as light has been developed, light sometimes exhibits properties of waves and sometimes properties of particles (an example of wave-particle duality).
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See also uncertainty principle
Etymology
Origin of complementarity
First recorded in 1910–15; complementar(y) + -ity
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.
He studied under the founder of quantum mechanics, Niels Bohr, and Bohr had coined the term “complementarity” to describe the uncanny experimental results that quantum physics produced.
From Scientific American
He called for the E.U. to have “our own security doctrine, in complementarity with NATO, and with a genuine technological independence, industrial and defense strategy.”
From Washington Post
"They were aware, informed and they gave us the green light. It's not a competition, more a complementarity," she said.
From Reuters
“We have signed an agreement that does guarantee, in an effective way, cooperation, positive complementarity, mutual support, constructive dialogue to seek truth and justice.”
From Reuters
This phenomenon, which goes by the technical term pollination complementarity, isn’t unique to cotton.
From Science Magazine
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
