noun
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the state or quality of being intricate or complex
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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
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Nothing But the Truth
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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 outcome wasn’t surprising, given both the complexity of the court’s ask and the marshal’s limited experience conducting these types of investigations.
From Slate ● Jul. 15, 2026
The chasteness of Nolan’s version bugs me as it’s insulting he doesn’t trust audiences to grapple with this hero’s moral complexity — and I’m gut-sick that he’s probably right.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
National teams don't have the time to build the complexity of club sides, so the message has to be simple and repeated.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
That contrast is especially striking in the Bismarck Sea north of Papua New Guinea, where the seafloor remains poorly understood despite its remarkable geological complexity.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026
The capabilities of ancient foragers, and the complexity of their cultures, seem to be far more impressive than was previously suspected.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
Monness, Crespi, Hardt & Co. analyst Brian White wrote in a recent note that Datadog has positioned itself well to benefit from the growing IT complexities that come with generative AI.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026
For many spectators, the coexistence of mourning ceremonies and World Cup excitement reflected the complexities of modern Iranian life.
From Barron's ● Jun. 21, 2026
The State Farm statement said the complexities and changing nature of the health-insurance market make it “exceptionally challenging to provide independent contractors with a modern benefits offering.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
Because of the complexities of the accounting period, which runs to the end of June, the Premier League is unable to apply points deductions in the season the offence happens.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
Lorenzetti had not mastered all the complexities of perspective construction—see how the back of Mary’s chair is higher than the front, and how the angel’s left foot is no further back than his right knee.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
