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.
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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.
Origin and Etymology of complaint
Middle English compleynte, from Anglo-French compleint, from compleindre —see complain
COMPLAINT Defined for English Language Learners
complaint
playDefinition of complaint for English Language Learners
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: a statement that you are unhappy or not satisfied with something
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: the act of saying or writing that you are unhappy or dissatisfied with something
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: something to be unhappy about : something that people complain about
COMPLAINT Defined for Kids
complaint
playDefinition 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
playMedical Definition of complaint
: a bodily ailment or disease bloating and other digestive complaints—Christine Gorman
Law Dictionary
complaint
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
Learn More about complaint
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See words that rhyme with complaint Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for complaint Spanish Central: Translation of complaint Nglish: Translation of complaint for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of complaint for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about complaint
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