Cool MateComplimentary vs Free
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Complimentary
Top 3,000 (common)
Free
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Most common: Free
| Complimentary | Free | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kəmˈplɪməntri//🇺🇸 //kəmˈplɪməntəri// | 🇬🇧 /["/friː/","/ˈfriːə(r)/","/ˈfriːɪst/"]/🇺🇸 /["/friː/","/ˈfriːər/","/ˈfriːɪst/"]/ |
| Meaning | Something that is free or praises someone. | Not costing money or not being controlled by someone. |
| Example | The hotel offered complimentary breakfast to all guests. | The concert tickets are free for everyone. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | complimentary service, complimentary gift, complimentary remarks, complimentary offer, complimentary ticket | be, keep something, completely, entirely, totally, be, seem, become, completely, be, come, absolutely, completely, entirely, for free, free of charge, for, be, feel, seem, completely, entirely, quite, from, be, feel, seem, completely, entirely, quite, from, be, roam, run, completely, entirely, totally, be, roam, run, completely, entirely, totally, be, become, remain, completely, entirely, totally, be, roam, run, completely, entirely, totally |
| Antonyms | critical, disparaging | expensive, costly |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'complementary'; they have different meanings., Used incorrectly to refer to something that is not free or praise., Omitting the context when saying 'complimentary' can lead to misunderstanding. | Confused with 'free of' which implies absence instead of no cost., Using with continuous tenses incorrectly, e.g., 'I am freeing my weekend.' |
| Usage notes | Use 'complimentary' to describe praises given or items provided for free. It's suitable for formal and neutral contexts, but avoid in informal conversations. | Use 'free' in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it in a context where it implies lack of value or worth. |
Frequently asked questions: Complimentary vs Free
What's the difference between Complimentary and Free?
Complimentary: Something that is free or praises someone. Free: Not costing money or not being controlled by someone.
Which is more common: Complimentary and Free?
Free is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Complimentary: The hotel offered complimentary breakfast to all guests. Free: The concert tickets are free for everyone.
Can I use Complimentary and Free interchangeably?
Not always. Complimentary and Free are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.