complex sentence

American  

noun

1. a sentence containing one or more dependent clauses in addition to the main clause, as When the bell rings (dependent clause), walk out (main clause).

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complex sentence British  

noun

1. grammar a sentence containing at least one main clause and one subordinate clause

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complex sentence Cultural  

1. A sentence that contains one main clause or independent clause and at least one subordinate clause or dependent clause: “Although I am tired (subordinate clause), I want to go to the midnight movie (main clause).” (See subordination; compare compound sentence, compound-complex sentence, and simple sentence.)

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Etymology

Origin of complex sentence

First recorded in 1880–85

Compare meaning

How does complex-sentence compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• compound sentence vs. complex sentence

Example Sentences

Yasuda concludes, "Simply having complex sentence structures does not necessarily lead to a better essay."

From Science Daily • Jun. 18, 2024

Or you can combine the shorter sentences into a complex sentence with a dependent clause, as in the second example.

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

When technical details are necessary, follow up a complex sentence with one that sums up the big picture.

From Nature • Dec. 19, 2019

Sentence length has something to do with it—a long, complex sentence may benefit from a clarifying semicolon—but if a sentence scans without a semicolon it’s best to leave it alone.

From The New Yorker • Jul. 15, 2019

Next to the simple sentence stands the complex sentence.

From An English Grammar by Sewell, James Witt