complimentary
komp-lih-MEHNT-ree
Complimentary (adjective) means expressing praise or admiration. Example: “She made a few complimentary remarks about his presentation.”
adjective
1
Expressing praise or admiration.
"She made a few complimentary remarks about his presentation."
2
Given free of charge, often as a courtesy.
"The hotel offers a complimentary breakfast to all guests."
"We received complimentary tickets to the show."
How to use complimentary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither praising someone, or given for free.
Common mistake
Easy to mix up with "complementary" (things that go well together, like complementary colours). Complimentary = praise or free; complementary = completing/matching.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
complimentary remarks
complimentary breakfast
complimentary copy
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more complimentary
- Superlative
- most complimentary
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She made a few _____ remarks about his presentation.
Etymology
From "compliment" (noun) + the suffix "-ary." A near-doublet of "complementary," which comes from a different root meaning "completing."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for complimentary
See all rhymes for complimentary →Frequently asked questions
What does “complimentary” mean?
The word “complimentary” means expressing praise or admiration. In plain terms, either praising someone, or given for free.
How do you pronounce “complimentary”?
“Complimentary” is pronounced komp-lih-MEHNT-ree (/ˌkɑmplɪˈmɛnt(ə)ɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “complimentary” in a sentence?
Here is “complimentary” used in a sentence: “She made a few complimentary remarks about his presentation.”
What part of speech is “complimentary”?
“Complimentary” is an adjective.
Is “complimentary” a common word?
“Complimentary” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “complimentary” have?
“Complimentary” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: expressing praise or admiration.
