complementary
Americanadjective
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acting as or forming a complement; completing
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forming a satisfactory or balanced whole
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forming a mathematical complement
sine and cosine are complementary functions
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maths logic (of a pair of sets, etc) mutually exclusive and exhaustive, each being the complement of the other
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(of genes) producing an effect in association with other genes
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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
- complementarily adverb
- complementariness noun
- uncomplementary adjective
Etymology
Origin of complementary
First recorded in 1590–1600; complement + -ary
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.
The Legacy Surveys bring together three complementary surveys using multiple telescopes located in Arizona and Chile.
From Science Daily
The most wide ranging quantitative analysis of research on complementary and alternative treatments for autism has found no strong evidence that these approaches are effective.
From Science Daily
The two chips could become more complementary than competitive, the way Facebook and Instagram are now.
From Barron's
Imagine knowing that a salesperson does her best work from 3:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. in New York while a teammate in Portugal performs best during complementary hours.
While having a vibrant nightlife and waking up for a sweat-inducing workout may seem like a contradiction, Hayward sees them as complementary.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
