What does "complement" mean?

1. (to improve or complete) to add to something in a way that improves it or makes it perfect. 2. (a perfect partner) a person or thing that goes well with something else. 3. (the full amount) the total number or amount of people or things needed for something. 4. (grammar) a word or phrase that follows a verb and gives more information about the subject or object. 5. (math and science) an amount or set that, when added to another, makes a whole.

How do you use "complement"?

In the sentence 'He is a doctor', the phrase 'a doctor' is a subject complement.

Is it correct to say "The wine complimented the meal perfectly."?

No — say "The wine complemented the meal perfectly.". Do not confuse 'complement' (to complete) with 'compliment' (to praise).

complement

v. · n.

US //ˈkɑmpɫəmənt// UK //kˈɒmplɪmənt// com·ple·ment

1 to improve or complete (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to add to something in a way that improves it or makes it perfect.

to contribute extra features to someone or something in such a way as to improve or emphasise their qualities.

Example

The blue tie really complements your grey suit.

Example

The minimalist production design complements the stark, emotional themes of the play without distracting the audience from the performances.
- clash
- detract
Pitfall

The wine complimented the meal perfectly.

The wine complemented the meal perfectly.

Do not confuse 'complement' (to complete) with 'compliment' (to praise).
2 a perfect partner (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a person or thing that goes well with something else.

a thing that contributes extra features to something else in a way that improves or emphasises its quality.

Example

The delicious sauce was the perfect complement to the grilled fish.

Example

The new CEO's focus on operational efficiency proved to be a vital complement to the founder's creative vision.

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3 the full amount (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

the total number or amount of people or things needed for something.

the full number or quantity required or allowed to make something complete.

Example

The ship finally had its full complement of sailors and was ready to sail.

Example

The department is currently operating with a full complement of staff for the first time since the restructuring began last year.
- total
- quota
- full house
4 grammar (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Linguistics

a word or phrase that follows a verb and gives more information about the subject or object.

a word or phrase, especially an adjective or noun, that is used after a linking verb to complete the predicate.

Example

In the sentence 'She seems happy', the word 'happy' is a complement.

Example

The professor explained that while some verbs are intransitive, others require a complement to form a grammatically complete sentence.

Usage

In the sentence 'He is a doctor', the phrase 'a doctor' is a subject complement.
5 math and science (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Math

an amount or set that, when added to another, makes a whole.

the amount or set required to complete a whole, such as an angle that makes a right angle or a set of elements not in a given subset.

Example

The complement of a 30-degree angle is a 60-degree angle.

Example

In set theory, the absolute complement of set A consists of all elements in the universal set that are not members of A.

Etymology 1

From Middle English complement, from Latin complēmentum (“that which fills up or completes”), from compleō (“to fill up; to complete”) (English complete). Doublet of compliment. The verb is from the noun.

Etymology 2

See compliment.