complaint

noun com·plaint \ kəm-ˈplānt \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition 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 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

There was no indication whether the discrimination complaint has been resolved.

— melanie burney, Philly.com, "Rowan College at Burlington County President Paul Drayton stepping down, cites medical reasons," 7 Apr. 2018
After a long break, both prosecutors and the defense agreed to move on with jury selection without resolving the racial complaint.

— aaron cooper, CNN, "Cosby lawyers ask for juror to be removed," 6 Apr. 2018
West University police referred the complaint to the Harris County Constable’s Office, Precinct One, which cited Burke on Thursday for disorderly conduct, a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine if she is convicted.

— matthew martinez, star-telegram, "Councilwoman who berated teens about Trump T-shirt is charged with disorderly conduct | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 6 Apr. 2018
The complaint names Donaldson and the City of Charlotte as defendants.

— michael gordon, charlotteobserver, "Expert: Police acted reasonably in shooting mentally ill man; family attorney scoffs | Charlotte Observer," 5 Apr. 2018
After a brief investigation, the inspector general dismissed all the allegations in the complaint as unfounded, according to documents reviewed by The Times.

— eric lipton, kenneth p. vogel and lisa friedman, New York Times, "E.P.A. Officials Sidelined After Questioning Scott Pruitt," 5 Apr. 2018
Marzouca-Jaunai and Greene recently appeared before Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Commission after a complaint was filed against them.

— steven goode, Courant Community, "Bloomfield's Blue Hills Fire Chief Robert Farmer Relieved Of Duties," 5 Apr. 2018
In a federal complaint, the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana alleges that the city of Noblesville and Hamilton County don't have enough low-income housing.

— dwight adams, Indianapolis Star, "'Significant' housing discrimination found in Marion County, study says," 5 Apr. 2018
The narrative in the complaint uses the same language to describe the responsibilities of all of the nursing supervisors who are being sued.

— josh kovner, courant.com, "Whiting Nursing Supervisor Transferred Over Allegations She Misused Overtime," 5 Apr. 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

complaint Synonyms

COMPLAINT Defined for English Language Learners

complaint

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

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

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