complementarity

noun

com·​ple·​men·​tar·​i·​ty ˌkäm-plə-(ˌ)men-ˈter-ə-tē 

-mən-,

-ˈta-rə-

1

: the quality or state of being complementary

2

: the complementary relationship of theories explaining the nature of light or other quantized radiation in terms of both electromagnetic waves and particles

Examples of complementarity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

So, compliments to the chef, whoever that might be, who thought there’d be a certain complementarity that would work here. —Chris Willman, Variety, 23 June 2024

Economic complementarity also drove them together: Russia had an abundance of natural resources but needed technology and money, while China needed natural resources and had money to spare and technology to share. —Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2024

But hearing the character of their voices up-front is still bound to come as a revelation — maybe even to themselves, from the sound of it — after a couple of decades of complementarity. —Chris Willman, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024

Recommended For many climate campaigners and non-governmental organizations, renewables and coal are seen as simple substitutes, but officials have focused on their complementarity in the short to medium term. —John Kemp, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

complementary + -ity

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

complementarity

noun

com·​ple·​men·​tar·​i·​ty ˌkäm-plə-(ˌ)men-ˈtar-ət-ē, -mən- 

plural complementarities

: correspondence in reverse of part of one molecule to part of another: as

a

: the arrangement of chemical groups and electric charges that enables a combining group of an antibody to combine with a specific determinant group of an antigen or hapten

b

: the correspondence between strands or nucleotides of DNA or sometimes RNA that permits their precise pairing

evolution of the contemporary genetic code involving purine-pyrimidine complementarity

—Struther Arnott & P. J. Bond