Complement vs Compliment
Published January 18, 2023. Updated January 18, 2023.
Compliment and complement look and sound similar, but they have different meanings and uses. Compliment means an expression of admiration. It can also be used in the phrase compliments of to name the giver of a gift. Complement, on the other hand, means something that improves or fulfills something else.
Here are some definitions and examples to help clarify the use of these words.
Compliment (noun or verb)
an expression of admiration
Examples:
I appreciated her compliment on my skirt.
We complimented the cleanliness of his home.
In the first example, compliment is used as a noun to describe a person’s admiration of a skirt. In the second example, compliment is used as a verb to describe the action of expressing admiration. This is the derivation of complimentary.
Complement (noun or verb)
something that improves or fulfills something else
Examples:
The brown top was the perfect complement to the skirt.
The side dish complements the entree perfectly.
In the first example, complement is used as a noun to describe a top as improving a skirt. In the second example, complement is used as a verb to describe how a side dish is the perfect addition to the main dish.
Main Points
- Compliment means an expression of admiration.
- Complement means something that improves or fulfills something else.
- Both compliment and complement can be used as a noun and a verb.
- The phrase compliments of is used to identify the giver of a gift, as in complimentary.