complaint

noun

com·​plaint kəm-ˈplānt How to pronounce complaint (audio)
Synonyms of complaint
1
: expression of grief, pain, or dissatisfaction
She did her chores without complaint.
2
a
: something that is the cause or subject of protest or outcry
Inefficiency was the main complaint against the local government.
b
: a bodily ailment or disease
The patient's complaint was frequent headaches.
3
a
: the initial pleading that starts a lawsuit and that sets forth the plaintiff's allegations against the defendant
b
: a document sworn to by a crime victim or police officer that sets forth a criminal offense and commences proceedings in a magistrate's court

Synonyms of complaint

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Examples of complaint in a Sentence

The board has received a number of complaints about the new policy. The company has a system to handle customer complaints. The lack of parking spaces is a common complaint among the city's residents. The lack of financial support is our biggest complaint. He is being treated for a stomach complaint. Shortness of breath was a common complaint among the patients.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
According to Dylan’s complaint, the assault occurred during the filming of an instructional basketball video by several Lakers players in the Campbell Hall gym. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Grannell was taken into custody on May 14 after trying to access the Pentagon through its visitor center, according to the complaint. — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026 The complaint, filed Monday by an employee of Denver International Airport's legal department, asks the Denver Board of Ethics to investigate Brown's conduct surrounding a May incident at the airport. — Brian Maass, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026 Congress passed the No Surprises Act in 2020 amid growing complaints from patients hit with big medical bills by doctors who weren't in their health insurer's network of providers. — Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for complaint

Word History

Etymology

Middle English compleynte, from Anglo-French compleint, from compleindre — see complain

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of complaint was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing complaint

Rhymes for complaint

See All Rhymes for complaint

Browse Nearby Words

complainingness
complaint
complaintive
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Complaint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complaint. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

complaint

noun
com·​plaint kəm-ˈplānt How to pronounce complaint (audio)
1
: expression of grief, pain, or resentment
2
a
: a cause or reason for complaining
the noise was her biggest complaint
b
: a pain or sickness in the body
3
: a charge of illegal wrongdoing against a person

Medical Definition

complaint

noun
com·​plaint kəm-ˈplānt How to pronounce complaint (audio)
: a bodily ailment or disease
bloating and other digestive complaints—Christine Gorman

Legal Definition

complaint

noun
com·​plaint
1
: the initial pleading that starts a lawsuit and that sets forth the allegations made by the plaintiff against the defendant and the plaintiff's demand for relief see also prayer, process, well-pleaded complaint rule compare answer
2
: a document sworn to by a victim or police officer that sets forth a criminal violation and that serves as the charging instrument by which charges are filed and judicial proceedings commenced against a defendant in a magistrate's court compare declaration, indictment, information
3
: petition

More from Merriam-Webster on complaint

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about complaint

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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