congratulatory

[kuhn-grach-uh-luh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, -graj-, kuhng-]

adjective

1. expressing or conveying congratulations.

   a congratulatory telegram.

Other Word Forms

• noncongratulatory adjective
• quasi-congratulatory adjective
• uncongratulatory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of congratulatory¹

1515–25; < Medieval Latin congrātulātōrius, equivalent to Latin congrātulā ( rī ) ( congratulate ) + -tōrious -tory ¹

Example Sentences

For Ashton Place was positively buried in congratulatory notes and baby gifts.

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Guinness World Records sent Oscar the congratulatory email on Monday.

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Adding to the whimsy, the book contains a fictional congratulatory letter from the heroine to Patchett regarding her novel “State of Wonder.”

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Ohtani’s father acknowledged this reality in a congratulatory open letter he wrote to his son, which was published in the Monday edition of Sports Nippon.

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Each notification was congratulatory, but Minus had no idea what had transpired the night before.

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Related Words

• celebratory 
• complimentary