What does "complementarity" mean?
The state or characteristic of being complementary.
Complementarity
/ˌkɒmpləmɛnˈtæɹɪti/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The state or characteristic of being complementary.
- Grammar: complementarity is listed as noun.
- Usage evidence: Great economic complementarity, huge potential for cooperation in various fields, and a strong desire to cooperate open up broad prospects for us for the development of bilateral relations.
How to use "complementarity"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "complementarity" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "complementarity" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "complementarity" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "complementarity" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
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- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "complementarity" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "complementarity", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The state or characteristic of being complementary. countable, uncountable
""Synergy is one of the most overused words in the English language, but there is a tremendous complementarity to these organizations.""
- 2 the interrelation of reciprocity whereby one thing supplements or depends on the other wordnet
- 3 A semantic relationship between two words wherein negative use of one entails the affirmative of the other with no gradability; the relation of binary antonyms. countable, uncountable
"For complementarity, there are entailments both from affirmative sentences to the corresponding negative sentences (which is what ordinary antonymy allows) and from negative sentences to the corresponding affirmative sentences. [...] That light is on entails That light is not off. That light is not on entails That light is off."
- 4 a relation between two opposite states or principles that together exhaust the possibilities wordnet
- 5 The idea that physical phenomena may have (mutually contradictory) properties that cannot be observed simultaneously (e.g. wave-particle duality). countable, uncountable
Example
"Great economic complementarity, huge potential for cooperation in various fields, and a strong desire to cooperate open up broad prospects for us for the development of bilateral relations."
Common questions
How do you use "complementarity" in a sentence?
Great economic complementarity, huge potential for cooperation in various fields, and a strong desire to cooperate open up broad prospects for us for the development of bilateral relations.
How do you pronounce "complementarity"?
Pronounced /ˌkɒmpləmɛnˈtæɹɪti/.
Etymology
From complementary + -ity.