- past tense form of complicate.
- past participle of complicate.
adjective
Other Word 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.
Officials have said firefighters are still dealing with poor visibility inside the facility due to its complicated layout.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 21, 2026
Among the few well-known details about Jane Street: the famously complicated puzzles and problems it gives job candidates.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 20, 2026
There was also a huge swell of public support for him to commit to the US at a time the route map to England's senior side appeared far more complicated.
From BBC • Jun. 19, 2026
Such a trust can be legally and financially complicated, however, and Medicaid can challenge it.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 19, 2026
Our teacher, Ms. Cherry, has complicated hair and wears very high heels.
From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins
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.
