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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"Why Read Shakespeare?" Vocabulary from the argument
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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:
The sheer complexity of rebuilding damaged energy facilities translates into an extended stranglehold on global supply—and higher oil prices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
He emphasised that in systems of such complexity, obscure faults are extremely hard to prevent.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
Fire officials on a noon press call said the fire was much smaller in scale and complexity than last year’s and was no longer actively burning, but that conditions could change.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
More recent approaches have added additional layers of complexity.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 7, 2026
Richard sat there for a while, imagining the lives of people who were capable of such beauty, such complexity, in the time of Alfred the Great.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
He said some of Moonfare’s retail-focused rivals that have pushed into the fast-growing sector are doing so without properly explaining the complexities of the asset class.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
We anticipated logistical challenges and ethical complexities, including potential trauma reactivation and our inability to provide clinical care.
From Slate ● Sep. 11, 2026
For instance, if one party comes from multigenerational wealth, or both do, then trust-and-estate complexities will likely require more billable hours to work out.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
"Active and efficient communication between specialties is often necessary due to the complexities associated with CKD," noted Prof. Herrington.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026
Nor can you understand the complexities of computing—the nature of algorithms, or the storage or corruption of data—without comprehending the structural anatomy of digitized information.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
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.
