complimentary
B2Neutral to formal. Widely used in professional and business contexts as well as everyday polite conversation.
Definition
Meaning
Given or supplied free of charge.
Expressing praise or admiration; flattering. Derived from 'compliment', meaning praise or a gift.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Has two distinct meanings: 1) Provided free as a courtesy (e.g., complimentary drink). 2) Expressing praise (e.g., complimentary remarks). The context always disambiguates. Do not confuse with 'complementary' (meaning 'completing' or 'matching').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major semantic differences. The free-of-charge meaning is prevalent in both in hospitality/travel sectors. The praise meaning is equally common.
Connotations
In business contexts, implies goodwill or a promotional gesture. When describing remarks, can sometimes imply superficiality if context suggests insincerity.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in business and service contexts in American English marketing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be + complimentary + about + [something]be + complimentary + to + [someone]offer/provide + [something] + complimentaryVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Return the compliment (to praise or give something in return)”
- “With our compliments (formal, meaning 'free, with our good wishes')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for free products/services offered to clients or guests to build goodwill (e.g., 'Complimentary Wi-Fi for all guests').
Academic
Rare. Might appear in literary analysis regarding flattering commentary.
Everyday
Common in travel, dining, and social interactions ('He was very complimentary about my cooking.').
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields except in marketing/UX for 'complimentary features'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The manager was moved to compliment the team publicly.
American English
- He complimented her on the excellent presentation.
adjective
British English
- The hotel offers complimentary toiletries.
- His remarks were overly complimentary.
American English
- The conference includes a complimentary lunch.
- She received a complimentary review in the paper.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The hotel gave us a complimentary bottle of water.
- My teacher said complimentary things about my drawing.
- As a guest, you are entitled to complimentary parking.
- He was very complimentary about the food I cooked.
- The airline offers complimentary headphones on long-haul flights.
- Despite her complimentary words, her tone suggested criticism.
- The critic's review was surprisingly complimentary, hailing the film as a masterpiece.
- The complimentary market analysis was a strategic move to secure the client.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A 'COMPLIMENT' can be a nice word (praise) OR a nice gift (free item). Adding '-ary' makes it the adjective for both.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRAISE IS A GIFT (both meanings align with this metaphor—giving something positive without expectation of payment).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'комплементарный' (complementary).
- 'Complimentary breakfast' = 'бесплатный завтрак', а не 'приятный завтрак'.
- В значении 'лестный' требует предлога 'about' или 'to'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing spelling with 'complementary'. (Complimentary = free/flattering; Complementary = matching/ completing).
- Incorrect preposition: 'He was complimentary on my work' (should be 'about my work').
- Using as a noun: 'I received a complimentary' (needs an object: 'a complimentary drink').
Practice
Quiz
What does 'complimentary' mean in this sentence: 'All guests will receive a complimentary breakfast.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Complimentary' means free or expressing praise. 'Complementary' means combining well to enhance each other, or completing something (e.g., complementary colours, complementary skills). They are homophones but have different spellings and meanings.
Yes, though not common. When describing praise, if the context implies insincerity or excessive flattery, it can carry a negative nuance (e.g., 'His overly complimentary remarks made her suspicious'). The 'free' meaning is neutral/positive.
No. The correct prepositions depend on use. For the 'praise' meaning: 'complimentary about something' or 'complimentary to someone'. For the 'free' meaning, it often precedes a noun directly ('complimentary drink') or follows a verb like 'offer' or 'provide'.
Associate the 'i' in 'complimentary' with 'I' like in 'I get a free gift' or 'I receive a compliment'. Associate the 'e' in 'complementary' with 'complete' or 'enhance'.