A2 noun Neutral #594 most common

complement

/ˈkɒmplɪmənt/

A thing that completes or brings to perfection something else. In grammar, it refers to a word or phrase that follows a verb and provides more information about the subject or object.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The red tie is a great complement to your white shirt.

The red tie is a great addition to your white shirt.

2

This research provides a complement to previous studies on the topic.

This research provides an addition to previous studies on the topic.

3

Your sense of humor is a nice complement to his serious personality.

Your sense of humor is a nice balance to his serious personality.

Word Family

Noun
complement
Verb
complement
Adjective
complementary
Related
complementarity
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Memory Tip

Look at the first two syllables: 'Comple-'. It sounds like 'Complete'. A complement completes the set.

Quick Quiz

The new curtains are a perfect ______ to the blue sofa.

Correct!

The correct answer is: complement

Examples

1

The red tie is a great complement to your white shirt.

everyday

The red tie is a great addition to your white shirt.

2

This research provides a complement to previous studies on the topic.

formal

This research provides an addition to previous studies on the topic.

3

Your sense of humor is a nice complement to his serious personality.

informal

Your sense of humor is a nice balance to his serious personality.

4

In the sentence 'He is a pilot,' the word 'pilot' is a subject complement.

academic

In the sentence 'He is a pilot,' the word 'pilot' is a subject complement.

5

Our consulting services are a perfect complement to your marketing plan.

business

Our consulting services are a perfect addition to your marketing plan.

Word Family

Noun
complement
Verb
complement
Adjective
complementary
Related
complementarity

Common Collocations

perfect complement a perfect addition
natural complement a natural addition
full complement a complete set or number
necessary complement a needed addition
complement to an addition to

Common Phrases

a perfect complement

something that goes perfectly with another thing

full complement

a complete number or amount of something

complement each other

to work well together as a pair

Often Confused With

complement vs compliment

A compliment is a polite expression of praise, while a complement is something that completes something else.

📝

Usage Notes

Use this word when talking about two things that work well together to create a better whole. It is frequently used with the preposition 'to'.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often misspell the word as 'compliment'. Remember that the 'e' in complement relates to 'complete'.

💡

Memory Tip

Look at the first two syllables: 'Comple-'. It sounds like 'Complete'. A complement completes the set.

📖

Word Origin

From the Latin word 'complementum', meaning 'that which fills up' or 'completes'.

Grammar Patterns

It is a countable noun. Commonly followed by the preposition 'to'. Plural form is 'complements'.
🌍

Cultural Context

In English-speaking cultures, this word is very common in culinary contexts to describe how flavors in food and wine work together.

Quick Quiz

The new curtains are a perfect ______ to the blue sofa.

Correct!

The correct answer is: complement

Related Words

homovestency

C1

Refers to the practice or state of wearing clothing that corresponds to one's own biological sex or gender identity. It is a technical term used primarily in psychological and sociological contexts to distinguish traditional dressing habits from cross-dressing or transvestism.

binavent

C1

To divide a single process, stream, or strategy into two distinct but parallel channels or outcomes. It is primarily used in technical or procedural contexts to describe the intentional and strategic splitting of resources or workflows to increase efficiency or manage complexity.

subclamious

C1

Describing a sound or environment that is moderately noisy or somewhat clamorous. It refers to a level of vocalization or background noise that is audible and potentially disruptive but falls short of a full, overwhelming clamor.

autographhood

C1

The state, quality, or condition of being an autograph or a handwritten original document. It refers to the status of a text or signature as having been personally inscribed by the individual it is attributed to.

prologcide

C1

Describing an action, policy, or mindset that involves the intentional destruction, removal, or bypassing of a prologue or introductory phase. It characterizes anything that seeks to eliminate the 'start' to reach the core or conclusion immediately.

inlegal

C1

A non-standard or archaic variation of the word 'illegal', referring to actions or conditions that are prohibited by law or official regulations. In modern English, it is primarily used as a distractor in language proficiency tests or found in non-native speech before prefix assimilation occurs.

hyperfacsion

C1

Describing a state of extreme fragmentation or division within a group, organization, or political body into numerous, often hostile, competing factions. It implies a level of discord where constructive cooperation is paralyzed by excessive micro-divisions.

dispetism

C1

To engage in a systematic and often petty rejection of established norms or authoritative directives. It describes the act of obstructing progress through deliberate non-compliance or by treating formal requirements with calculated contempt.

interautoite

C1

To automatically synchronize or integrate multiple autonomous systems or self-regulating processes into a unified whole. It is used to describe the seamless interaction between independent units that function without external intervention.

autolaudible

C1

Describing speech, writing, or behavior that is characterized by self-praise or self-commendation. It refers to the act of highlighting one's own merits or achievements, often used in a critical sense to imply vanity.

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