complaint
Americannoun
-
complaints
plural
-
an expression of discontent, regret, pain, censure, resentment, or grief; lament; faultfinding.
his complaint about poor schools.
-
a cause of discontent, pain, grief, lamentation, etc.
-
a cause of bodily pain or ailment; malady.
The doctor says I suffer from a rare complaint.
-
Law. the first pleading of the plaintiff in a civil action, stating the cause of action.
noun
-
the act of complaining; an expression of grievance
-
a cause for complaining; grievance
-
a mild ailment
-
English law a statement by which a civil proceeding in a magistrates' court is commenced
Usage
What does complaint mean? A complaint is a statement about something you’re unhappy or upset about. It has more specific meanings in legal and medical contexts. Complaint is the noun form of the verb complain. In legal terms, a complaint is the document that officially initiates a legal proceeding. In medicine, it refers to a symptom or cause of pain as reported by a patient. Example: I liked the movie, but my one complaint is that the women in the cast didn’t get enough screen time.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of complaint
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English compleynte, from Middle French complainte, from Latin com- com- + plancta plaint
Explanation
A complaint is an objection to something that is unfair, unacceptable, or otherwise not up to normal standards. If your neighbors have a complaint about noise, they want you to be more quiet. A complaint is voiced objection to something, like a complaint about cold or disgusting-tasting food in a restaurant. Complaint is also a legal term — the plaintiff's reasons for bringing a civil action. Medically speaking, a complaint is a disorder or disease that is hard to cure completely. Loud cries of pain, anger, or sadness can also be called complaints.
Vocabulary lists containing complaint
"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 15
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Clever Magistrate"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Pass It On," "If There Be Pain," and "Sonnet 30"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A Disney representative declined comment as executives have yet to see Said’s complaint.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
"For three years, while the company quietly collapsed around them, not one of its founders, officers, or directors said a word to the investors whose money was funding the collapse," the complaint states.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
The lawsuit was filed ahead of an October deadline to finish the project or risk lenders’ demand for repayment from LINXS, according to the complaint.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
The government’s complaint focused largely on alleged antisemitism at Harvard in the aftermath of the Oct.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
“And when might that be?” squeaked the irate gnome, brandishing a notebook as though she were prepared to make a complaint of some kind.
From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
United officials were quick to make it known the number nine shirt Rashford wore in Poland was not permanent, to stave off any complaints from those tempted to buy one.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Revenue surged but so did expenses as the ticket reseller dealt with customer complaints and refunds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
The council said it had a legal duty to investigate noise complaints and it had a duty to enforce the rules.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
The online ticketing platform is facing a flood of complaints and a proposed federal class-action suit over undelivered tickets for the World Cup and other major events, reports Hanna Krueger.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Aunt Kitty just blinked, letting my complaints tangle around me like a sticky cobweb.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
