complaint

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noun com·plaint \kəm-ˈplānt\

Definition of complaint

1 : expression of grief, pain, or dissatisfaction She did her chores without complaint.
2a : 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 formal allegation against a party The complaint alleges sexual harassment.

See complaint defined for English-language learners

See complaint defined for kids

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 of complaint from the Web

The Aberdeen Department of Public Works responded at about 10:30 p.m. Monday to the Beards Hill and Woodcrest area for an odor complaint of gasoline in several houses, according to a news release from Public Works Director Kyle Torster.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Gas smell in Aberdeen sewer spreads to homes," 20 July 2017
Records from the city's Office of Police Conduct Review show Noor has had three complaints against him.

— amy forliti, chicagotribune.com, "Minneapolis officer: Partner fatally shot Justine Damond moments after loud sound," 19 July 2017
Byers was not part of original criminal complaint filed under seal on June 21.

— mike hendricks, kansascity, "New charges filed in Jackson County jail bribery schemes," 18 July 2017
Decades Of Misconduct And Beating The Law The report also documents RKelly’s long history of predatorial behavior towards young black women, citing numerous cases and complaints.

— paula rogo, Essence.com, "7 Things We Learned About R Kelly From Buzzfeed's Article On His Secret 'Cult'," 17 July 2017
The study also recommends more aggressive outreach to workers, assistance filling out complex complaints forms and protections against potential retaliation from employers.

— david garrick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Study prompts calls for greater wage theft enforcement in San Diego," 11 July 2017
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) garnered more than 3,000 complaints regarding the uniforms.

— kaleigh fasanella, Teen Vogue, "American Airlines’ Uniforms Are Allegedly Making Employees Ill," 10 July 2017
Those named in the complaint were CEO and co-owner Mark D. Acker, production manager and co-owner Timothy L. Fickling and quality manager and pharmacist-in-charge V. Elaine Waller.

— lawrence specker, AL.com, "Foley medical company, charged with health violations, to remain shuttered," 6 July 2017
The town reported over 26,000 noise complaints in 2016, an 8 precent increase over the previous year, the Wall Street Journal reports.

— maggie maloney, Town & Country, "East Hampton Residents Are Trying to Limit Noise From Local Airport Traffic," 5 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'complaint.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of complaint

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

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First Known Use: 14th century

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COMPLAINT Defined for English Language Learners

complaint

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noun

Definition of complaint for English Language Learners

: a statement that you are unhappy or not satisfied with something
: the act of saying or writing that you are unhappy or dissatisfied with something
: something to be unhappy about : something that people complain about

COMPLAINT Defined for Kids

complaint

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noun com·plaint \kəm-ˈplānt\

Definition of complaint for Students

1 : expression of grief, pain, or discontent He does his work without complaint.
2 : a cause or reason for expressing grief, pain, or discontent The noise is my biggest complaint.
3 : a sickness or disease of the body a stomach complaint
4 : a charge of wrongdoing against a person What's her complaint against me?

Medical Dictionary

complaint

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noun com·plaint \kəm-ˈplānt\

Medical Definition of complaint

: a bodily ailment or disease bloating and other digestive complaints—Christine Gorman

Law Dictionary

complaint

noun com·plaint

Legal Definition of complaint

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