# complimentary

/ˌkɑmpɫəˈmɛntɝi/ (US) · /kˌɒmplɪmˈɛntəɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/complimentary
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. free of charge

adjective · CEFR B2

given for free, usually by a business like a hotel or restaurant.

For teachers: provided without charge as a courtesy or for promotional purposes.

- The hotel provides a complimentary breakfast for all guests staying in the building.
- The airline offered complimentary champagne to passengers in first class to compensate for the two-hour delay on the tarmac.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes.

### 2. expressing praise

adjective · CEFR B2

saying something nice or showing that you admire someone.

For teachers: expressing a compliment; conveying praise, admiration, or approval.

- The teacher was very complimentary about my latest essay in front of the class.
- The critics were surprisingly complimentary regarding the director's debut film, despite its modest production budget.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'about'.

### 3. formal letter closing

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

used to describe the formal way you end a professional letter.

For teachers: relating to the conventional closing of a formal letter before the signature.

- She chose a standard complimentary close like 'Yours sincerely' for her job application.
- The business writing manual explains which complimentary closings are appropriate for different levels of professional hierarchy.

Usage: Almost exclusively used in the phrase 'complimentary close' or 'complimentary closing'.

## Examples

- The hotel provides a complimentary breakfast for all guests.
- After the long delay, the airline offered complimentary drinks and snacks to the frustrated passengers.
- While the critic was generally harsh toward the director's previous work, her review of the new film was surprisingly complimentary, highlighting the nuanced performances of the lead actors.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.