complimentary breakfast

Meaning

A 'complimentary breakfast' is a morning meal provided by a hotel or lodging establishment at no extra cost to the guest. The word 'complimentary' is a formal, polite way of saying 'free' in business and hospitality contexts. It is typically served buffet-style in the hotel dining area.

Examples

• Does the room rate include a complimentary breakfast, or is there an extra charge?

  Does the room rate include a complimentary breakfast, or is there an extra charge?

• Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast served daily from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m.

  Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast served daily from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m.

• The hotel offers a complimentary breakfast with fresh fruit, pastries, and coffee.

  The hotel offers a complimentary breakfast with fresh fruit, pastries, and coffee.

• I chose this hotel specifically because they provide a complimentary breakfast.

  I chose this hotel specifically because they provide a complimentary breakfast.

• We missed the complimentary breakfast because we slept in until eleven.

  We missed the complimentary breakfast because we slept in until eleven.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The hotel serves a complementary breakfast.

  ✓ The hotel serves a complimentary breakfast.

  'Complementary' (with an 'e') means completing or matching something well. 'Complimentary' (with an 'i') is the correct spelling for something given for free.

• ✗ Is the morning breakfast free cost?

  ✓ Is the morning breakfast complimentary?

  'Free cost' is grammatically incorrect. In professional hospitality settings, use 'complimentary' or 'free of charge'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Most business hotels offer a ___ breakfast to their guests in the morning.

  💡 A formal word for free

  Show answer

  complimentary

• We don't need to go out for food because a ___ breakfast is served downstairs.

  💡 Free meal provided by the hotel

  Show answer

  complimentary