complaint

noun com·plaint \ kəm-ˈplānt \

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Examples: complaint in a Sentence

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

An officer reported seeing two men fighting in the middle of Village Center Drive by Burr Ridge Parkway at 4:23 p.m. July 7, but neither wanted to sign a complaint.

— kimberly fornek, chicagotribune.com, "Police blotter: Burr Ridge officers follow suspects in eight car burglaries onto I-55 before losing them," 14 July 2018
However, the company's copyright policy describes how rights holders can file copyright complaints, and how users can respond with counter notices.

— NBC News, "Fans howl over taking down World Cup Twitter posts for copyright issues," 14 July 2018
Town Manager Peter Souza plans to hire an independent investigator to look into a complaint stemming from a car crash involving a former school board member and allegations that the dash cam video from the responding police cruiser was altered.

— steven goode, Courant Community, "Town Manager Calls for Independent Investigation into Allegations of Dash Cam Tampering," 13 July 2018
The open meetings board’s opinion is based on a March 20 complaint filed by Craig O’Donnell, a staffer for the Dover Post newspaper in Delaware.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Harford school board takes 'corrective action' after violating open meetings law," 13 July 2018
Last year, the review board looked at 263 complaints, and sustained 62 of them.

— jessica anderson, baltimoresun.com, "Panel reviewing police civilian oversight calls for more powerful 'independent police accountability agency'," 13 July 2018
But our rear outboard passengers had no complaints.

— g. chambers williams iii, Houston Chronicle, "COMPACT," 13 July 2018
Although the numbers haven’t previously been so stark, officer compensation is a longstanding complaint that largely went unadressed during Mayor Kasim Reed’s administration.

— christian boone, ajc, "Atlanta police pay lags behind other metro cities, study says," 13 July 2018
Also, the facility failed to submit a comprehensive emergency management plan to authorities, among complaints listed in records.

— linda trischitta, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Caretaker accused of using duct tape to tie up 67-year-old woman," 13 July 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