complaint

noun

com·​plaint kəm-ˈplānt 

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 formal allegation against a party

The complaint alleges sexual harassment.

Synonyms

• grievance
• whine
• moan
• fuss
• lament
• bitch

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

By July, the department had dismissed thousands of these complaints, raising concerns about whether each case was being dutifully considered. —Chad De Guzman, Time, 15 July 2025

Building inspector Major construction work continues at the U.S. Federal Reserve building as U.S. President Donald Trump voices complaints about Fed Chair Jerome Powell, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 14, 2025. —Josephine Rozzelle, CNBC, 15 July 2025

Song, a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist, is accused of firing two AR-15-style rifles at two correctional officers and one Alvarado police officer, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Fox News Digital last week. —Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2025

That followed years of complaints from animal advocates about harassment of seals and their pups. —Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 July 2025

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

Phrases Containing complaint

• counter-complaint
• grounds for complaint

Rhymes for complaint

• acquaint
• constraint
• distraint
• enceinte
• repaint
• restraint
• faint
• feint
• maint
• paint
• plaint
• quaint

Kids Definition

complaint

noun

com·​plaint kəm-ˈplānt 

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 

: 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