complacency

American  

[kuhm-pley-suhn-see] / kəmˈpleɪ sən si /

Also complacence

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.

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complacency British  

/ kəmˈpleɪsənsɪ /

noun

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

2. an obsolete word for complaisance

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of complacency

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

Example Sentences

This was a measure of how low defence and security had fallen in the nation's priorities - and a measure, too, of the complacency into which much of Europe had sunk.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Mr. Mahajan’s “The Complex” is an anguished, intelligent study of ambition decoupled from principles, and of the complacency and fear that allows it to thrive.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

The reason for market complacency is well known.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 11, 2026

My mental default is that the world is neutral-good, and that may be why I prefer movies with active villains scaring me out of my complacency.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

Are we willing to tolerate ignorance and complacency in matters that affect the entire human family?

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan