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 com·pli·men·ta·ries.

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

Derived Forms

• ˌcompliˈmentarily, adverb

Other Words From

• com·pli·men·ta·ri·ly [kom-pl, uh, -m, uh, n-, tair, -, uh, -lee], adverb
• com·pli·men·ta·ri·ness noun
• in·ter·com·pli·men·ta·ry adjective
• qua·si-com·pli·men·ta·ry adjective
• un·com·pli·men·ta·ry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of complimentary¹

First recorded in 1620–30; compliment + -ary

Example Sentences

A spokesperson for complimentary therapies at The Christie Cancer Hospital said "historically there had been some misunderstandings about the safety of offering massage to patients with cancer".

From BBC

He applauded his fighter Taylor, who was equally complimentary of her fellow trailblazer.

From BBC

On offer right now are four complimentary passes to the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

Grab a free slice of pizza, a complimentary tiramisu dessert or a free shot for showing your “I Voted” sticker on election day, plus where to stress-watch live election results around L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

Not everyone has been as complimentary of Chromakopia's Monday morning release, however.

From BBC

Related Words

• appreciative
• congratulatory
• polite
• respectful

Complimentary Vs. Complementary

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.

Quiz yourself on complimentary vs. complementary!

Should complimentary or complementary be used in the following sentence?

My comment was meant to be _____—I really do like your shoes!