compound-complex sentence

[ kom-pound-kom-pleks ]

noun

1. a sentence having two or more coordinate independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses, as The lightning flashed (independent clause) and the rain fell (independent clause) as he entered the house (dependent clause).

compound-complex sentence

1. A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause : “Queen Elizabeth I was called a redhead (independent clause), but no one knew her hair color for sure (independent clause) because she always wore a wig (dependent clause).” “Because she always wore a wig” is a dependent clause starting with the subordinating conjunction (see subordination ) because . ( Compare complex sentence , compound sentence , and simple sentence .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of compound-complex sentence¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

A compound sentence in which one or more of the cordinate clauses are complex is called a compound complex sentence.

From Project Gutenberg

Two or more independent complex clauses may be joined to make a compound complex sentence.

From Project Gutenberg

In that case, the sentence is called a compound complex sentence.

From Project Gutenberg