complaint
Americannoun
-
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
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.
I have a similar complaint, but this relates to a toilet that is malfunctioning.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026
But ever since March, his listening data “shows a sharp and measurable decline in counted streams, despite continued listener activity,” as detailed in the complaint.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
In its response to the complaint, Beauty Pie said the results of its trial demonstrated "a significant reduction in wrinkles".
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
“Gates has never had an improper relationship with any employee of the Gates Foundation or Gates Ventures, and no complaint alleging otherwise has ever been made,” the Gates spokesperson added.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
Now he was leaning more heavily on Rowans shoulder, but still, he moved on without complaint.
From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda
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.
