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

Anderson says that three things are inevitable: middle age, complacency and the tendency to look at the next generation with disdain.

From Los Angeles Times

He said the families were "extremely concerned" about an evidential picture which indicated a "series of system failings, complacency, a lack of curiosity and inadequacy".

From BBC

Just as important, Kirk sensed and exploited the complacency and weakness of liberal culture, and understood, in the cliché of our age, that politics is a downstream subsidiary.

From Salon

Mr Rangarajan says that as well as the reprimand, stakeholders including in parliament were shocked by the complacency and asked "what were you doing?"

From BBC

Retail analyst Natalie Berg said there was "no room for complacency" in the current retail landscape.

From BBC