Definition of complication
1a : complexity, intricacy; especially : a situation or a detail of character complicating the main thread of a plotb : a making difficult, involved, or intricatec : a complex or intricate feature or elementd : 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
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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
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At present, the flow reversal system is approved only for patients who are at a high risk of complications for undergoing a normal surgical procedure.
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Washington died on Feb. 16 of complications from pneumonia.
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The cause was complications from strokes, said a brother, David Cummings.
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His coach that year was Mike Brown, who has served as acting coach for the Warriors while Steve Kerr is out following complications from back surgery.
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And now Manuel Noriega, the former Panamanian leader, has died at 83 following complications from surgery to remove a brain tumor.
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Mr. Noriega had been in intensive care since March 7 after complications developed from surgery to remove what his lawyer described as a benign brain tumor.
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Lauer, 86, died of complications from leukemia April 30 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, said his son, Randy.
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Baker died of complications from Parkinson’s on Thursday.
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.
15th Century
First Known Use of complication
15th century
Other Literature Terms
COMPLICATION Defined for English Language Learners
complication
playDefinition of complication for English Language Learners
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: something that makes something harder to understand, explain, or deal with
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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
playDefinition of complication for Students
: something that makes a situation more difficult
Medical Dictionary
complication
playMedical 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
Learn More about complication
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See words that rhyme with complication Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for complication Spanish Central: Translation of complication Nglish: Translation of complication for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of complication for Arabic speakers
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