complimentary

American  

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

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.

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noun

plural

complimentaries

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

complimentary British  

/ -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

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of complimentary

First recorded in 1620–30; compliment + -ary

Explanation

If you say something complimentary, like "Grandma, that plastic flower looks so pretty in your hair," you are flattering, praising or admiring someone. "Resembling a compliment" is one way to define the word complimentary, when you use it in the sense of giving praise. A second meaning of complimentary is "free." If your hotel includes breakfast with the price of your room, they may call it a complimentary breakfast. It's easy to get complimentary confused with complementary, which sounds exactly the same but means "filling in or completing."

Example Sentences

Despite pre-fight talk of sluggish ticket sales, the 62,000-capacity stadium looked close to full, though whether through strong sales or late complimentary distribution was unclear.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Your complimentary access concludes next week— for uninterrupted access and get your first four weeks free.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

We started with a generous spread of complimentary bread and butter, fresh oysters, and escargot—my wife’s favorite, not mine, though the leftover sauce was perfect for dipping.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Last year, Fahey offered the organization a complimentary room to display work.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

Though she called me “boy” so often, and with a carelessness that was far from complimentary, she was of about my own age.

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

Related Words

• appreciative
• congratulatory
• polite
• respectful