Julie AmparanoMarq Mitcham
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Is it complement or compliment?
Today there is no overlap between the meanings of complement and compliment, as either nouns or verbs, but their similar spellings and pronunciations make them prime candidates for confusion. Despite the difference in their meanings, both complement and compliment have roots in the Latin word complēre which means “to complete.” Complement remains true to that origin in its spelling and in its meanings that have to do with completing or completion. Keep that connection in mind and there should be no question as to whether complement or compliment is the correct word to use in a given context.
Synonyms
Examples of compliment in a Sentence
E. B. White, The Trumpet Of The Swan, (1970) 2000
Boys in the Midwest grow up without a word of praise, their parents fearful that a compliment might make them vain …
—Garrison Keillor, WLT: A Radio Romance, 1991
Mallard scowled at him. He had never learned to receive compliment or expressions of gratitude gracefully.
—Dorothy Simpson, The Night She Died, 1981
The first presentation of Falstaff I ever saw was yours … Perhaps the best compliment I can pay is to say, as I truly can, I am very anxious to see it again.
—Abraham Lincoln, letter, 17 Aug. 1863
He told her he admired her paintings and she returned the compliment by saying that she was a fan of his sculptures.
When customers recommend our company to friends and family members, we consider that to be the highest compliment we can get.
Verb
She was forever complimenting Ziba's exotic appearance and asking for her viewpoint on various international issues.
—Anne Tyler, Digging to America, 2006
… she had gotten a three-and-a-half-star review in the Nut County Reporter, complimenting her especially on her crème brûlée and her pork medallions …
—Jane Smiley, Good Faith, 2003
What a day. She had been winked at, complimented, given a gift, and now mistaken for the mysterious Alyce …
—Karen Cushman, The Midwife's Apprentice, 1995
Wilde would compliment him later: 'I have always regarded you as the best critic of my plays.' 'But I have never criticised your plays,' said Tree. 'That's why,' said Wilde.
—Richard Ellmann, Oscar Wilde, (1984) 1988
complimented her on her election victory
Angela Haupt, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
Adhering to meticulous grooming, the compliments on the overall look flowed.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 3 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for compliment 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'compliment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Noun
borrowed from French, Italian & Spanish; French, borrowed from Italian & Spanish; Italian complimento, borrowed from Spanish cumplimiento, complimiento "offer made solely for reasons of etiquette," earlier "abundance," from cumplir "to go along (with), meet the expectations (of), satisfy (obligations of courtesy)," earlier, "to carry out, execute, fulfill" + -miento -ment — more at comply
Note: In the seventeenth century the word was often spelled complement, and complement entry 1 was occasionally spelled compliment. Senses of complement current in early Modern English, as "any observance that tends to give completeness to the expression of worship, honour, reverence, or the like" (Oxford English Dictionary, first edition) tend to shade into compliment, so that it is difficult to know if authors recognized a difference between the words.
Verb
borrowed from French complimenter, derivative of compliment compliment entry 1
Phrases Containing compliment
Dictionary Entries Near compliment
Cite this Entry
“Compliment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compliment. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
compliment
1 of 2 noun
compliment
2 of 2 verb
More from Merriam-Webster on compliment
Nglish: Translation of compliment for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of compliment for Arabic Speakers
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