English

Adjective

complementary ‎(comparative more complementary, superlative most complementary)

1. Acting as a complement.
   • 1988, Andrew Radford, Transformational grammar: a first course, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, page 140:

     Using the terminology we intro-
     duced earlier, we might then say that black and white squares are in comple-
     mentary distribution on a chess-board. By this we mean two things: firstly,
     black squares and white squares occupy different positions on the board: and
     secondly, the black and white squares complement each other in the sense that
     the black squares together with the white squares comprise the total set of 64
     squares found on the board (i.e. there is no square on the board which is not
     either black or white).

2. (genetics) Of the specific pairings of the bases in DNA and RNA.
3. (physics) Pertaining to pairs of properties in quantum mechanics that are inversely related to each other, such as speed and position, or energy and time. (See also Heisenberg uncertainty principle.)

Usage notes

• Complementary and complimentary are frequently confused and misused in place of one another.

Derived terms

Related terms

• complemental

Translations

Noun

complementary ‎(plural complementaries)

1. A complementary colour.
2. (obsolete) One skilled in compliments.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Ben Jonson to this entry?)

External links

• complementary in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• complementary in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911