complementary
pronunciation
How to pronounce complementary in British English:
UK [ˌkɒmplɪˈmentri]
How to pronounce complementary in American English:
US [ˌkɑːmplɪˈmentri]
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- Noun:
- either one of two chromatic colors that when mixed together give white (in the case of lights) or gray (in the case of pigments)
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- Adjective:
- acting as or providing a complement (something that completes the whole)
- of words or propositions so related that each is the negation of the other
- of or relating to or suggestive of complementation
Word Origin
- complementary (adj.)
- 1620s, "ceremonious," from complement + -ary. Sense "forming a complement" attested from 1829, earliest in complementary colors.
Example
- 1. Their economies are highly complementary to china 's economy .
- 2. There is something complementary about these two proposals .
- 3. We believe they can do so by forming what we call hybrid value chains ( hvcs ) , which capitalize on those complementary strengths to increase benefits and lower costs .
- 4. Complementary colors are really bad for text .
- 5. Even their differences are complementary .