Complementary and Supplementary

Complementary

Complementary adjective - Related to each other in such a way that one completes the other.
Usage example: the complementary contributions of the cooking and cleanup committees were essential to the success of the church barbecue

Supplementary is a synonym for complementary. In some cases you can use "Supplementary" instead an adjective "Complementary".

Supplementary

Supplementary adjective - Available to supply something extra when needed.
Usage example: the teacher's edition of the textbook comes with a lot of supplementary material

Complementary is a synonym for supplementary in add-on topic. You can use "Complementary" instead an adjective "Supplementary".

Cite this Source
Supplementary and Complementary. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/complementary/supplementary
Complementary & Supplementary. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/complementary/supplementary>.
Supplementary or Complementary. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/complementary/supplementary.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "complementary" and "supplementary" have occurred on timeline