complimentary

[kom-pluh-men-tuh-ree, -tree]

adjective

1. given free as a gift or courtesy.

   The hotel gives repeat guests a complimentary gift basket

2. expressing a compliment, often one that is politely flattering.

   a complimentary remark.

   Synonyms: laudatory, commendatory
   Antonyms: abusive

3. showing or conveying approval or favor.

   Our project was received in a complimentary spirit by the community.

   His analysis of our work was not as complimentary as we were hoping it would be.

noun

plural

complimentaries 

1. something given or supplied without charge, such as lodging, transportation, or meals, especially as an inducement to prospective customers.

complimentary

/ -trɪ, ˌkɒmplɪˈmɛntərɪ /

adjective

1. conveying, containing, or resembling a compliment

2. expressing praise; flattering

3. given free, esp as a courtesy or for publicity purposes

Other Word Forms

• complimentarily adverb
• complimentariness noun
• intercomplimentary adjective
• quasi-complimentary adjective
• uncomplimentary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of complimentary¹

First recorded in 1620–30; compliment + -ary

Example Sentences

When BBC Scotland, asked fans for their views, very few were complimentary of the head coach.

From BBC

This episode shows a clip from a Fox News segment where an anchor is overly complimentary of the president.

From Los Angeles Times

"But we were ahead of the game and lots of people, particularly at the bigger clubs, or even the press, were not too complimentary."

From BBC

You won't hear too many complimentary voices about him from the Barcelona camp when they meet on Sunday but, despite all the 'anti-football' criticisms, his record speaks for itself.

From BBC

Her contributions always felt integral, but often sweetly complimentary to Hansard’s outsized showmanship.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• appreciative 
• congratulatory 
• polite 
• respectful 

When To Use

What’s the difference between complimentary and complementary?

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. 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).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 complimentary and complementary 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.