ENGLISH
REFERENCE

complementary

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌkɑmpɫəˈmɛntɹi// UK //kˌɒmplɪmˈɛntəɹi// com·ple·men·tary Archaic

n. completing or going well with something else. You use it to describe two things that fit together perfectly.

n. forming a complete whole when combined with another element; mutually enhancing or completing.


SIMPLE

The red wine is a complementary drink for this meal.

CONTEXTUAL

Blue and orange are complementary colors that create strong visual contrast.

COMPLEX

The two policies are complementary, addressing different aspects of the same social problem without overlapping in their specific mandates.

Synonyms
Origin

From complement + -ary. Piecewise doublet of complimentary.

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