complimentary

What it means

1. In the nature of a compliment.

   a complimentary remark

   1 more example

   But yesterday evening late, when Lewis arrived from down town he found his supper spread, and some presents of books there, with very complimentary writings on the fly-leaves, and certain very complimentary letters, and more or less greenbacks of dignified denomination pinned to those letters and fly-leaves...

   1877 August 25, Mark Twain, The Letters of Mark Twain, volume 3,2004, page 56

   Antonyms: uncomplimentary

2. Free; provided at no charge.

   complimentary drinks

   1 more example

   In the evenings, Ward and PJ offer guests a complimentary drink. This gesture seems to reinforce the hosts' desire to make everyone feel welcome.

   2005, Vivien Lougheed, Belize Pocket Adventures, page 65

   Synonyms: free of charge, costless, chargeless, free, free of charge, gratis, gratuitous

3. With respect to the closing of a letter, formal and professional.

   The complimentary closing is the word grouping used to bring the message or text to a close.

   2003, Richard H. Beatty, The Perfect Cover Letter

In a sentence

a complimentary remark

Where it comes from

From compliment (noun) + -ary. Piecewise doublet of complementary.