Phrase guide

complementary colour

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Either of two colours which, when mixed, produce a white or grey.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK

Topics: color, colour, science, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A colour which is regarded as the opposite of another, so that the two colours together form a pleasing contrast.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: art, arts

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 互補色 /互补色 (hùbǔsè) — in colour science
  • Chinese Mandarin: 補色 /补色 (bǔsè) — in colour science
  • Finnish: vastaväri — in colour science
  • Finnish: komplementtiväri — in colour science
  • Irish: dath comhlántach — in colour science
  • Japanese: 補色 (hoshoku) — in colour science
  • Japanese: 余色 (yoshoku) — in colour science
  • Korean: 보색 (bosaek) — in colour science
  • Polish: barwa dopełniająca — in colour science
  • Tagalog: magkapunong kulay — in colour science
  • Chinese Mandarin: 互補色 /互补色 (hùbǔsè) — arts: one of two colours, which form a pleasing contrast
  • Chinese Mandarin: 補色 /补色 (bǔsè) — arts: one of two colours, which form a pleasing contrast
  • Finnish: komplementtiväri — arts: one of two colours, which form a pleasing contrast
  • Finnish: vastaväri — arts: one of two colours, which form a pleasing contrast
  • Irish: dath comhlántach — arts: one of two colours, which form a pleasing contrast
  • Polish: barwa dopełniająca — arts: one of two colours, which form a pleasing contrast
  • Tagalog: magkapunong kulay — arts: one of two colours, which form a pleasing contrast