COMPLIMENTARY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does complimentary mean? 

• COMPLIMENTARY (adjective)
  The adjective COMPLIMENTARY has 2 senses:

1. conveying or resembling a compliment

2. costing nothing

  Familiarity information: COMPLIMENTARY used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COMPLIMENTARY (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Conveying or resembling a compliment

Context example:

a complimentary remark

Similar:

encomiastic; eulogistic; panegyric; panegyrical (formally expressing praise)

laudatory; praiseful; praising (full of or giving praise)

Also:

favorable; favourable (encouraging or approving or pleasing)

Antonym:

uncomplimentary (tending to (or intended to) detract or disparage)

Derivation:

compliment (a remark (or act) expressing praise and admiration)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Costing nothing

Synonyms:

complimentary; costless; free; gratis; gratuitous

Context example:

free admission

Similar:

unpaid (not paid)

 Context examples 

As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

As Miss Lamb had 'enjoyed' the story, this speech was not exactly grateful or complimentary.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He proceeded a little farther, reading to himself; and then, with a smile, observed, Humph! a fine complimentary opening: But it is his way.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

“It was very nice and complimentary of you,” Holmes answered.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A complimentary/alternative cancer therapy that uses antineoplastons to protect the body from disease.

(Antineoplastons Therapy, NCI Thesaurus)

A DNA structure formed between similarly oriented, homologous DNA double strands in which a single strand from one duplex crosses over to base pair with the complimentary strand on the other duplex, generating a cruciform structure.

(Holliday Junction, NCI Thesaurus)

Antisense Oligonucleotides, short synthetic segments of DNA or RNA, designed with a sequence complimentary to a specific mRNA that target and bind with mRNA, causing inhibition of translation or overexpression of the protein encoded by the mRNA.

(Antisense Oligonucleotides, NCI Thesaurus)

The hair-breadth turns and twists we made, drew down upon us a variety of speeches from the people standing about, which were not always complimentary; but my aunt drove on with perfect indifference, and I dare say would have taken her own way with as much coolness through an enemy's country.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He could not but wonder at her refusing to do anything for a niece whom she had been so forward to adopt; but, as she took early care to make him, as well as Lady Bertram, understand that whatever she possessed was designed for their family, he soon grew reconciled to a distinction which, at the same time that it was advantageous and complimentary to them, would enable him better to provide for Fanny himself.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

The breakfast-room was gay with company; and she was named to them by the general as the friend of his daughter, in a complimentary style, which so well concealed his resentful ire, as to make her feel secure at least of life for the present.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)