complementary color

noun

1. Art.

   1. one of a pair of primary or secondary colors opposed to the other member of the pair on a schematic chart or scale color wheel, as green opposed to red, orange opposed to blue, or violet opposed to yellow.

   2. the relationship of these pairs of colors perceived as completing or enhancing each other.

2. secondary color.

complementary color

1. A secondary color that, when combined with the primary color whose wavelength it does not contain, produces white light. Thus yellow, which is produced by mixing the primary colors red and green, is the complementary color of blue.

2. See Note at color

Word History and Origins

Origin of complementary color¹

First recorded in 1820–30