complacency

Also com·pla·cence

[kuhm-pley-suhn-see]

noun

plural

complacencies 

1. a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc.

2. Archaic.

   1. friendly civility; inclination to please; complaisance.

   2. a civil act.

complacency

/ kəmˈpleɪsənsɪ /

noun

1. a feeling of satisfaction, esp extreme self-satisfaction; smugness

2. an obsolete word for complaisance

Other Word Forms

• noncomplacence noun
• noncomplacency noun
• overcomplacence noun
• overcomplacency noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of complacency¹

From the Medieval Latin word complacentia, dating back to 1635–45. See complacent, -cy

Example Sentences

For Mr. Thompson, running is both discipline and diagnosis—a safeguard against complacency.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The latest comes from Bank of America’s monthly survey of global money managers, which shows alarming levels of complacency among the people managing many of the world’s top investment institutions.

Read more on MarketWatch

Quiet, unassuming, even shy, particularly in public, McSweeney is known for being obsessed by winning, constantly fearful of complacency and ever aware of Labour’s track record of losing far more often than it wins.

Read more on BBC

“Notwithstanding this encouraging news, we cannot afford the luxury of complacency,” Kim wrote in the letter.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Some supporters characterize opposition to the proposition as a form of political complacency or inaction in the face of what they view as executive overreach.

Read more on Los Angeles Times