complimentary

adjective

com·​pli·​men·​ta·​ry ˌkäm-plə-ˈmen-t(ə-)rē How to pronounce complimentary (audio)
1
a
: expressing praise or admiration : expressing or containing a compliment
a complimentary remark
b
: favorable
the novel received complimentary reviews
2
: given free as a courtesy or favor
complimentary tickets

Examples of complimentary in a Sentence

Furtado is as complimentary about Elliott's manicure … as she is about Elliott's business acumen. David A. Keeps, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2001
In the bar that evening I at last had the Holiday Inn's complimentary drink, "Tropical Aura." V. S. Naipaul, Among the Believers, 1981
Wilbur had been feeling dizzier and dizzier through this long, complimentary speech. When he heard the crowd begin to cheer and clap again, he suddenly fainted away. E. B. White, Charlotte's Web, 1952
She made complimentary remarks about his work. They handed out complimentary brochures. The restaurant offers valet parking as a complimentary service.
Recent Examples on the Web But to really see the changes in color saturation, lots of people need to wear these complimentary red and green colors. Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2024 Visitors hoping to escape the snow can stop by the Casino de Mont-Tremblant, reachable via a complimentary shuttle with several pick-up points around the mountain. Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2024 Tower Suite guests receive preferred seating at the beach and pools, along with exclusive access to the Top of The Tower, a private lounge on the 27th floor where a bevy of global bites and complimentary drinks are offered throughout the day and evening. Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2024 From 7 to 10pm, ladies can enjoy complimentary special Mayamigas cocktails to indulge with their friends while taking in performances by special fire-dancers and an energetic violinist. Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Free tours start with a taste of a pina colada and end with complimentary rum samples. Elaine Glusac, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2024 Customers making purchases for delivery or pickup through the Craving Credits app, DoorDash or Uber Eats also will be able to add on complimentary scoop. The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024 Additional perks for all guests who book early include a $500 USD air credit per person if booked through Flight Ease and complimentary roundtrip airport transfers to and from the Fort Lauderdale airport. Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 For example, all guests are welcome to join the daily, complimentary wine social in the lounge. Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'complimentary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of complimentary was in 1714

Dictionary Entries Near complimentary

Cite this Entry

“Complimentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complimentary. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

complimentary

adjective
com·​pli·​men·​ta·​ry ˌkäm-plə-ˈment-ə-rē How to pronounce complimentary (audio)
-ˈmen-trē
1
: expressing or containing a compliment
a complimentary remark
2
: given free as a courtesy or favor
complimentary tickets

More from Merriam-Webster on complimentary

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