adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of complicated
First recorded in 1640–50; complicate + -ed 2
Explanation
When things get complicated, they are no longer simple and straightforward. If you are asked a question that would require a long, detailed answer, you might just say, "It's complicated." The word complicated came about in the 1640's to mean "tangled" or "difficult to unravel." This makes sense, considering it came from the Latin verb complicāre, meaning "to fold together." Consider that something with many folds is more complicated than something flat. Novelist Robert Ludlum said, "Life is extremely complicated," but Confucius long ago suggested that "Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated." Just having those two opposing viewpoints indicates how complicated life can be.
Vocabulary lists containing complicated
Schooled
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"Sorry, Wrong Number," Vocabulary from the play
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Excerpts from "To Kill a Mockingbird"
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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.
America has had a long complicated relationship with the world’s most popular game.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026
They might not get a pat on the back from everyday Americans, but the pricing and trading of something as complicated as SpaceX was nothing short of impressive.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
That should help mitigate trading volatility in the next few weeks to months, especially as SpaceX’s complicated lockup provisions allow some insiders to begin selling their shares.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 12, 2026
The piano is not that complicated, but the trumpet is a pain in the butt.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026
The story of these presidents and their connection to slavery is a complicated one.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
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.
