1. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun, Also v-link ADJto n]
Complementary things are different from each other but make a good combination.
[formal]
To improve the quality of life through work, two complementary strategies are necessary.
Many plain tiles and complementary borders are also available.
He has done experiments complementary to those of Eigen. [+ to]
Synonyms: matching, companion, corresponding, compatible More Synonyms of complementary
complementarity (kɒmplɪmentærɪti)uncountable noun
...the complementarity between public and private authorities. [+ between]
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Complementary medicine refers to ways of treating patients which are different from the ones used by most Western doctors, for example acupuncture and homoeopathy.
...combining orthodox treatment with a wide range of complementary therapies.
complementary in British English
(ˌkɒmplɪˈmɛntərɪ, -trɪ) or complemental
adjective
1.
acting as or forming a complement; completing
2.
forming a satisfactory or balanced whole
3.
forming a mathematical complement
sine and cosine are complementary functions
4. mathematics, logic
(of a pair of sets, etc) mutually exclusive and exhaustive, each being the complement of the other
5.
(of genes) producing an effect in association with other genes
6.
involving or using the treatments and techniques of complementary medicine
Derived forms
complementarily (ˌcompleˈmentarily) or complementally (ˌcompleˈmentally)
adverb
complementariness (ˌcompleˈmentariness)
noun
complementary in American English
(ˌkɑmpləˈmɛntəri)
adjective
1.
acting as a complement; completing
2.
making up what is lacking in one another
Also ˌcompleˈmental (ˌkɑmpləˈmɛntəl)
Examples of 'complementary' in a sentence
complementary
These are two superb, complementary performances.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It has many different and complementary pieces.
O'Connor, Joseph & Seymour, John Training with N.L.P. (1994)
But lots of patients also turn to complementary approaches.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Thus the approach taken in this book centres around the two complementary issues of attitude and skill.
Atkinson, Jacqueline M Coping with Stress at Work (1988)
Alternative explanations can be complementary rather than mutually exclusive.
Christianity Today (2000)
An independent charitable organization sponsoring and publishing research into complementary medicine.
Martlew, Gillian & Silver, Shelley (ed) The Medicine Chest - your family's guide to prescription drugs (1988)
This special issue reflects these two contrasting yet complementary aspects of the same world.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The increased choice that is granted to parents has two complementary virtues.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She added that much of the research by the two organisations was complementary.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Charity experts are highly complementary about the two mergers.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But are the two churches biologically complementary?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The two companies' products also look complementary.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
That's one of the reasons for the growth in complementary medicines.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Doctors and patients need to make a clear distinction between alternative medicine, complementary medicine and conventional medicine.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Maybe one day the time will come when we will begin to think of the various forms of medicine as being complementary to each other.
de Jong, Eveline Alternative Health Care for Children (1989)
Will any complementary medicines help?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It is also proof that complementary deals are safer than far-reaching ones as companies seek to grow in these improved economic conditions.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is therefore far too simplistic to regard complementary medicine as a single thing, opposed to an equally homogeneous orthodox approach.
Dylan Evans PLACEBO: The Belief Effect (2003)
The secret of their relationship, according to friends, is their different but complementary strengths.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He says: 'We are different and quite complementary.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This is where the idea of different, but complementary roles, for men and women comes from.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
These days, when the term complementary medicine is being used, it always means to denote other forms of medicine being complementary to orthodox medicine.
de Jong, Eveline Alternative Health Care for Children (1989)
Generally and statistically speaking, men and women have different and sometimes complementary minds and abilities, just as they have different and sometimes complementary bodies.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
complementary
British English: complementary /ˌkɒmplɪˈmɛntərɪ; -trɪ/ ADJECTIVE
If two different things are complementary, they form a complete unit when they are brought together, or they combine well with each other.
The two groups had complementary skills.
American English: complementary
Arabic: مُتَمِّم
Brazilian Portuguese: complementar
Chinese: 补充的
Croatian: komplementaran
Czech: doplňkový
Danish: komplementær
Dutch: complementair
European Spanish: complementario
Finnish: täydentävä
French: complémentaire
German: ergänzend
Greek: συμπληρωματικός
Italian: complementare
Japanese: 補完的な
Korean: 보충하는
Norwegian: komplementær
Polish: uzupełniający
European Portuguese: complementar
Romanian: complementar
Russian: взаимодополняющий
Latin American Spanish: complementario
Swedish: kompletterande
Thai: เสริมซึ่งกันและกัน
Turkish: bütünleyici
Ukrainian: взаємодоповнюючий
Vietnamese: bổ sung
All related terms of 'complementary'
complementary DNA
a form of DNA artificially synthesized from a messenger RNA template and used in genetic engineering to produce gene clones
complementary gene
one of a pair of genes , each from different loci , that together are required for the expression of a certain characteristic
complementary angle
either of two angles whose sum is 90°
complementary color
one of a pair of primary or secondary colors opposed to the other member of the pair on a schematic chart or scale ( color wheel ), as green opposed to red, orange opposed to blue , or violet opposed to yellow
complementary colors
any of two colors of the spectrum that, combined in the right intensities , produce white or nearly white light
complementary colour
one of any pair of colours, such as yellow and blue , that give white or grey when mixed in the correct proportions
complementary medicine
the treatment, alleviation, or prevention of disease by such techniques as osteopathy , homeopathy , aromatherapy , and acupuncture , allied with attention to such factors as diet and emotional stability , which can affect a person's wellbeing
complementary distribution
a relation such that the members of a pair or set of phones , morphs, or other linguistic units have no environment in common, as aspirated “ p ” and unaspirated “p” in English, the first occurring only in positions where the second does not
complementary wavelength
the wavelength of monochromatic light that could be mixed in suitable proportions with a given coloured light so as to produce some specified achromatic light