ENGLISH
REFERENCE

comp

n. · v. · adj.
US //ˈkɑmp// comp
  1. 1 competition (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    a short way to say competition.

    a clipping of competition, frequently used in casual speech or casual journalism.

    Example

    I entered a radio comp to win tickets to the music festival.

    Example

    The local surfing comp attracted participants from across the coast, despite the relatively poor weather conditions forecast for the weekend.
  2. 2 free item or ticket (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a free ticket or item given to someone, usually for a show or a hotel stay.

    a clipping of complimentary ticket or item, typically provided by management in the hospitality or entertainment industries.

    Example

    The manager gave us a few comps for the show because our dinner was late.

    Example

    The casino host offered several room comps to the high rollers to ensure they remained at the resort for the duration of the tournament.
  3. 3 comprehensive school (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate British English Informal Education

    a type of state school in the UK that takes children of all abilities.

    a clipping of comprehensive school; refers to a non-selective secondary school in the British state education system.

    Example

    He went to the local comp before heading to university in London.

    Example

    The debate regarding the efficacy of the local comp versus the nearby selective grammar school remains a contentious issue for the town council.
    • state school
    • grammar school
    • private school
  4. 4 comprehensive exam (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic American English Education

    a very important final exam for a university degree.

    a clipping of comprehensive examination, usually referring to the final qualifying exams for a doctoral or master's degree.

    Example

    She is staying in the library all weekend to study for her comps.

    Example

    After months of intensive preparation, the graduate student finally sat for her doctoral comps in the spring semester.
  5. 5 comparable property (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical

    a similar house or property used to help decide the price of another one.

    a clipping of comparable; used in real estate to refer to recently sold properties with similar characteristics used for valuation.

    Example

    The agent looked at recent comps in the neighborhood to set the asking price.

    Example

    The appraiser struggled to find accurate comps because the property featured unique architectural elements not present in the surrounding suburban developments.
  6. 6 to provide for free (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to give someone something for free, like a meal or a ticket.

    to provide a complimentary item or service to a customer, often as a gesture of goodwill or a marketing tactic.

    Example

    The restaurant owner decided to comp our drinks after the long wait.

    Example

    The airline agreed to comp the passenger's hotel stay after the mechanical failure resulted in an unplanned overnight layover.
  7. 7 free of charge (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    given for free as a gift or favor.

    a clipping of complimentary; used to describe goods or services provided without charge.

    Example

    We were lucky enough to get comp tickets to the opening night.

    Example

    The promoter distributed a limited number of comp passes to local influencers to generate social media buzz before the official launch.

Last updated June 20, 2026