noun
-
the state or quality of being intricate or complex
-
something intricate or complex; complication
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of complexity
Explanation
Is the movie simple or does it have lots of plot twists and intricate relationships between characters? If the latter is true, the movie's complexity makes it hard to understand. When you see the word complexity, think of something with a lot of pieces, something not easy to put into words or understand. Things that can have complexity include: the events leading up to the American Civil War, a broth made with many ingredients, your relationship with your parents. Complexity is the opposite of simplicity. When something has a lot of complexity, you say it is complex. When it has very little complexity, it is simple.
Vocabulary lists containing complexity
List 2
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!
Nothing But the Truth
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!
"Why Read Shakespeare?" Vocabulary from the argument
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.
See Examples For:
This allowed the researchers to represent the magnetic impurities almost as if they were molecules, while retaining the full complexity of their electronic interactions.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026
“Better documentation can capture patient complexity that was previously missed. The same tools can also make it easier to identify billable conditions, whether or not those conditions change care,” he said.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
This is far from the first issue created by the huge complexity of the latest hybrid engines introduced this year, with their near 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
If Mariam is the film’s heartbreaking figure, Abbass brings complexity to the character, never letting her be a saintly victim.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Or that you are so befuddled by the complexity of their operation that you wouldn’t know what to do with the information if you had it.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
Unusually, Turkey must navigate these complexities with Australia, a major fossil fuel exporter, after both countries agreed to share COP31 duties following a bruising hosting battle.
From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026
Chatbots “don’t teach us what we need to know about the give-and-take of real relationships, or the friction, risk, and complexities of love,” Turkle writes.
From Slate ● Sep. 29, 2026
But, as ever in this case, the complexities indicate this is not straightforward.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
It’s a fun, childlike interpretation of the complexities of coming from two cultures and religions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
They will explore the complexities of her character.
From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby
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.
