complementary

adjective com·ple·men·ta·ry \ˌkäm-plə-ˈmen-t(ə-)rē\

: completing something else or making it better : serving as a complement

—used of two things when each adds something to the other or helps to make the other better

: going together well : working well together

Full Definition of COMPLEMENTARY

: relating to or constituting one of a pair of contrasting colors that produce a neutral color when combined in suitable proportions

: serving to fill out or complete

: mutually supplying each other's lack

: being complements of each other (see ¹complement) <complementary acute angles>

: characterized by the capacity for precise pairing of purine and pyrimidine bases between strands of DNA and sometimes RNA such that the structure of one strand determines the other

— com·ple·men·ta·ri·ly \-ˈmen-t(ə-)rə-lē, -(ˌ)men-ˈter-ə-lē, -ˈta-rə-\ adverb

— com·ple·men·ta·ri·ness \-ˈmen-t(ə-)rē-nəs\ noun

— complementary noun

See complementary defined for English-language learners

See complementary defined for kids

Examples of COMPLEMENTARY

… hot and sour soup encapsulates the Taoist principle central to Chinese culture: yin and yang, the notion of balancing the universe's opposing yet complementary forces. —Rebecca Hays, Cook's Illustrated, January & February 2006
Once Austin got used to what he had on, Jerry was going to talk him into a neck scarf of complementary colors and a cream pullover. —Alice Munro, Atlantic, January 1990
Vann and Ellsberg were the odd couple, difficult men from different worlds satisfying complementary needs in each other. —Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988
… it was becoming more and more clear to him that Miss Bart herself possessed precisely the complementary qualities needed to round off his social personality. —Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth, 1905
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Origin of COMPLEMENTARY

(see ¹complement)

First Known Use: 1829

Related to COMPLEMENTARY

Synonyms: correlative, reciprocal, supplemental, supplementary

Antonyms: noncomplementary, nonreciprocal

Rhymes with COMPLEMENTARY

documentary, double entry, elementary, mockumentary, rudimentary, sedimentary, single entry, supplementary, testamentary

COMPLEMENTARY Defined for Kids

complementary

adjective com·ple·men·ta·ry \ˌkäm-plə-ˈmen-tə-rē\

Definition of COMPLEMENTARY for Kids

: serving to make whole or improve something <Their complementary talents make them a great team.>

Medical Dictionary

complementary

adjective com·ple·men·ta·ry \ˌkäm-plə-ˈment-ə-rē, -ˈmen-trē\

Medical Definition of COMPLEMENTARY

: relating to or constituting one of a pair of contrasting colors that produce a neutral color when combined in suitable proportions

: characterized by molecular complementarity; especially : characterized by the capacity for precise pairing of purine and pyrimidine bases between strands of DNA and sometimes RNA such that the structure of one strand determines the other