complication

noun com·pli·ca·tion \ ˌkäm-plə-ˈkā-shən \

Definition of complication

1 a :complexity, intricacy; especially :a situation or a detail of character complicating the main thread of a plot

b :a making difficult, involved, or intricate

c :a complex or intricate feature or element

d :a difficult factor or issue often appearing unexpectedly and changing existing plans, methods, or attitudes

2 :a secondary disease or condition developing in the course of a primary disease or condition

See complication defined for English-language learners

See complication defined for kids

Examples of complication in a Sentence

The negotiations stalled when complications arose.
Pneumonia is a common complication of AIDS.
She experienced complications during her pregnancy.
The patient died of complications from surgery.

Recent Examples of complication from the Web

The report of Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, says Yazdi died in Izmir, Turkey, due to complications from cancer.

— Washington Post, "Hundreds attend funeral of Iranian dissident politician," 31 Aug. 2017
Some have been from other causes, but the vast majority have stemmed out of complications from Harvey.

— ben mutzabaugh, USA TODAY, "Flights: Houston still closed; Harvey cancellations near 9,400, now extend into Friday," 30 Aug. 2017
Shepard died on Thursday at the age of 73 due to complications with Lou Gehrig's disease.

— matt miller, Esquire, "Patti Smith's Beautiful Remembrance of Sam Shepard Is a Portrait of Art and Friendship," 2 Aug. 2017
Leah Halliday-Johnson, the other patient, was experiencing complications while her own doctor was on a break.

— robert newhouse, Teen Vogue, "12 Inmates Escaped From an Alabama Jail," 31 July 2017
Those early starting dates led to scheduling complications for some programs.

— steve megargee, courant.com, "NCAA Rule Ending Two-A-Days, Forcing Teams To Adjust," 26 July 2017
The international nature of the competition came with complications.

— moriah balingit, Washington Post, "After visa delays, Afghan girls’ robotics team arrives in D.C. for global competition," 17 July 2017
The 61-year-old author and university lecturer -- jailed in 2009 for advocating an end to one-party rule -- died on Thursday from complications related to cancer in the northeastern city of Shenyang.

— ting shi, Bloomberg.com, "China Defends Nobel Laureate's Care After Death Fuels Outcry," 14 July 2017
In an attempt to get clean, Ellis suffered from alcohol withdrawal which resulted in a blood infection, kidney shutdown and heart complications, his family told THR.

— christina coleman, Essence.com, "Family Of 'True Blood' Actor Nelsan Ellis Reveal Cause Of Untimely Death," 10 July 2017

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

First Known Use of complication

15th century

complication Synonyms

Synonyms

complexity, complicacy, convolution, difficulty, intricacy, fly in the ointment

Antonyms

health, wellness

Related Words

aftereffect, ramification, side effect (also side reaction); subtlety, technicality; annoyance, bitch, bother, headache, inconvenience, matter, trouble

Near Antonyms

fitness, healthiness, heartiness, robustness, soundness, wholeness, wholesomeness; fettle, shape

Other Literature Terms

apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody

COMPLICATION Defined for English Language Learners

complication

noun

Definition of complication for English Language Learners

: something that makes something harder to understand, explain, or deal with
medical : a disease or condition that happens in addition to another disease or condition : a problem that makes a disease or condition more dangerous or harder to treat

COMPLICATION Defined for Kids

complication

noun com·pli·ca·tion \ ˌkäm-plə-ˈkā-shən \

Definition of complication for Students

:something that makes a situation more difficult

Medical Dictionary

complication

noun com·pli·ca·tion \ ˌkäm-plə-ˈkā-shən \

medical Definition of complication

:a secondary disease or condition that develops in the course of a primary disease or condition and arises either as a result of it or from independent causes