complimentary

USAGE SUMMARY

'complimentary' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is usually used to mean something given or done free of charge, or as a courtesy. Example sentence: The hotel staff left a complimentary fruit basket in our room as a welcome gesture.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In exchange for their cash, investors will get a stake in the business and perks such as discounts online and at BrewDog bars and a complimentary beer on their birthday.

The Guardian

Though highly complimentary of Darktrace's technology, Andrew Tang, service director for security at IT firm MTI Technology, believes that there will be parts of the private sector that won't want to associate with spooks after everything Snowden revealed.

The Guardian - Tech

The fly-half, who made his debut in the 2012 Six Nations, has been compared with Jonny Wilkinson, but not necessarily in a complimentary way, more regarded as a sort of mini-robot.

The Guardian - Sport

We support the manufacture of vehicles that utilize natural gas as an alternative fuel and/or a complimentary fuel.

The Guardian

I spoke to a couple of lads at Spurs but they had already given away their complimentary tickets, and I spoke to my own club, too – usually a last resort.

The Guardian - Sport

Darby suggests that online mechanisms should be available as a complimentary tool to home displays.

The Guardian

Despite being generally complimentary about the Peaks, Ruskin must take his share of blame for following in the footsteps of JM Turner and William Wordsworth by overselling the Lake District.

The Guardian - Travel

In it, the Wellington headmaster and biographer of Gordon Brown was less than complimentary about Labour's economic credibility and the future of Ed Balls as shadow chancellor.

The Guardian - Opinion

So why the hell is it considered complimentary to say that women have testicles?

The Guardian

Between December and February, the vineyards and distillers of Poitou-Charentes throw open their gates to visitors for free visits and tastings, often accompanied by dinners or live music in the cellars, while local restaurants devise complimentary menus (cognacetapes.com).

The Guardian - Travel

Natural Gas - Alternative Fuel - We urge the use of natural gas as an alternative transportation fuel and as complimentary fuel to gasoline and diesel.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "complimentary" to mean 'free', ensure the context clearly indicates that no payment is required to avoid confusion with its other meaning ('expressing praise').

Common error

Avoid using "complimentary" when you mean "complementary". "Complementary" means enhancing or completing something else, while "complimentary" means free or expressing praise. For example, use "complementary colors" not "complimentary colors" to describe colors that enhance each other.

Linguistic Context

The word "complimentary" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate either something is given free of charge or expresses praise. Ludwig AI confirms this use through various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "complimentary" is a common adjective with two main meanings: expressing praise or being provided free of charge. It's crucial to differentiate it from "complementary". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and business. When writing, ensure clarity to avoid confusion between its two meanings, and note that its register is generally neutral, leaning toward professional in business contexts. Examples from The Guardian, The Economist, and SEP illustrate its broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

supplied complimentary

Similar to the original phrase, but using "supplied" to emphasize the act of providing.

free of charge

Indicates that something is provided without cost, emphasizing the absence of payment.

at no cost

Highlights the lack of expense involved, focusing on the benefit of not having to pay.

without charge

Similar to "free of charge", stressing the fact that there is no payment required.

courtesy of

Indicates that something is provided as a polite gesture, often by a company or organization.

given gratis

Emphasizes the act of providing something freely, often used in more formal contexts.

cost-free

A concise way to express the absence of any cost, often used in technical or business contexts.

provided free

Focuses on the action of supplying something without any cost to the recipient.

offered gratuitously

Highlights the voluntary and generous nature of providing something without expecting anything in return.

furnished without payment

A more formal way of saying "free of charge", stressing the lack of any financial transaction.

FAQs

What does "complimentary" mean?

The word "complimentary" has two primary meanings. It can mean expressing a compliment or praise, or it can mean given free of charge.

How do I use "complimentary" in a sentence?

When you want to use "complimentary" to say something nice about someone, you can say something like, "She was "complimentary about my work"." When you mean free, you can say, "We received "complimentary tickets to the show"."

What is the difference between "complimentary" and "complementary"?

"Complimentary" means expressing praise or given free, while "complementary" means enhancing or completing something else. Remember the 'i' in "complimentary" for "I like your gift" and the 'e' in "complementary" for "complete each other."

What are some alternatives to "complimentary" when it means "free"?

If you want to use another word for "complimentary" when it means 'free', you can use alternatives like "free of charge", "gratis", or "at no cost".