What does comp mean?
Comp is an informal clipping of two longer words. Most commonly it is a noun meaning a complimentary item — typically a free ticket to a concert, play, sporting event, or flight — given to guests, press, employees, or VIPs rather than sold. In American workplace contexts, comp is equally familiar as shorthand for compensation, above all in 'workers' comp', the insurance that covers employees injured on the job, and in 'comp time', paid time off granted instead of overtime wages. The word can also function as a verb in hospitality and gambling circles, meaning to give something away for free: a casino might comp a high roller's hotel room or meals. Because it is casual and abbreviated, comp suits conversation, journalism about entertainment industries, and workplace talk, but formal documents prefer the full forms 'complimentary' and 'compensation'. Its brevity has made it a staple of backstage jargon and office vocabulary alike.
A complimentary item, especially a free ticket to a performance, event, or flight.
"The critic received two comps for the preview."
Plural 'comps'.
Informal shortening of compensation, especially workers' compensation.
"Her medical bills were covered by comp after the accident."
Almost always in the fixed phrases 'workers' comp' or 'comp claim'; chiefly North American.
To give someone something, such as admission, food, or accommodation, free of charge.
"The casino comped their suite for the weekend."
Chiefly North American hospitality and gambling usage; past tense 'comped'.
Standard plural for the complimentary-ticket sense; the compensation sense usually appears only in singular fixed phrases.
"The promoter set aside a dozen comps for industry guests."
If you're watching the show for free, you didn't buy a ticket — you got a comp.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of comp
Comp arose as a natural English clipping of 'complimentary', from the Latin 'complementum' via 'complere' (to fill up or complete), which also gives us 'complete' and 'comply'; the sense of a courteous gift led to 'complimentary ticket'. Its other major source is 'compensation', from Latin 'compensare', meaning to weigh one thing against another, the root behind 'compensate' and 'pension'-related benefit terms. Both clippings became widespread in twentieth-century American usage.
How comp is actually used
Strictly informal and colloquial; in formal writing use 'complimentary ticket' or 'workers' compensation'. As a verb ('the house comped our dinner'), it is chiefly North American casino and hospitality slang.
Easily confused with comp
'Comp' is a clipped form of complimentary or compensation, while 'camp' refers either to a temporary outdoor shelter or to a deliberately exaggerated, theatrical style.