Compliment vs. Complement
A “compliment” is praise or an expression of admiration; to “compliment” someone is to praise them. A “complement” is something that completes, matches, or improves something else, and “complement” is also a grammatical term.
Use “compliment” for praise. Use “complement” for something that completes, pairs well with, or enhances something else—or for the grammatical term “complement.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| praise or an expression of admiration | compliment | Use “compliment.” |
| something that completes, pairs well with, or enhances | complement | Use “complement.” |
| grammar: an element completing a construction | complement | Use the established grammatical term. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Is the word about praise?
If yes: Use “compliment.”
If no: Use “complement” for completion, matching/enhancing, or the grammatical sense.
Caveat: Choose by the documented meaning or construction; a different pattern may be valid in a different sentence structure.
Examples
That was a generous compliment.
The noun names praise.
The sauce is a good complement to the dish.
The noun names something that pairs well with another thing.
The verb takes a complement in this construction.
The grammatical term uses “complement.”
Further guidance
Common Error
A product can complement another product, while a person can compliment its design. The words can occur in similar contexts but express different relationships.
Complement
As a verb, complement means to make something else seem better or more complete when combined with it. As a noun it can mean something that completes a set, and in grammar it names a clause element that adds required information.
Compliment
As a noun, compliment is a remark or action expressing approval, admiration, or respect. As a verb, it means to praise or express admiration.
Memory Aid
Think of the “i” in compliment as praise directed at a person: “I compliment you.” Think of complement with “e” as completing or enhancing. The memory aid is only a mnemonic; the definitions are what determine the word.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Compliment — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Compliment noun and verb meanings
- Complement — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Complement verb, noun, and grammar meanings