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:
“It’s a layer of complexity that enterprises have not had to contend with in the past. It is a math problem of access and authorization and agency,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
And the sheer scale and complexity of the Medicaid system – joint federal-state funding, varying eligibility requirements, millions of enrollees and thousands of providers – created opportunities for questionable billing practices among providers.
From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026
Each added layer of complexity widens the range of assumptions and models a rating agency can employ.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
Test results can take anywhere from several weeks to a few months depending on the complexity of the case and the workload of forensic laboratories.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
He extracted cube roots and integrated functions of varying complexity.
From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
Vowles has explained the complexities of producing a new car to a new rule set stress-tested the factory and exposed weaknesses that were previously not apparent.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
For his part, Connor always feared that the show’s “rose-tinted” approach, though part of the story’s appeal, “would not be nuanced enough to talk about the complexities of being human and being young.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
Investors can look for opportunities in the sectors positioned to help older adults live independently, access more personalized care, extend their careers, manage the complexities of retirement and transfer wealth to spouses and heirs.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
The group had previously said it sought to transform the business by making changes such as slashing overhead costs, reducing complexities and bolstering technology development.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
It makes as much sense as believing that a technical knowledge of molecular biology will render a person unappreciative of the mysteries and complexities of life.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
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.
