grievance

noun

griev·​ance ˈgrē-vən(t)s 

1

: a cause of distress (such as an unsatisfactory working condition) forming the reason for complaint or resistance

Their chief grievance was the unsafe work environment.

2

: the formal expression of a grievance : complaint

filed a grievance against her employer

3

obsolete : suffering, distress

Synonyms of grievance

• resentment
• grudge

Choose the Right Synonym for grievance

injustice, injury, wrong, grievance mean an act that inflicts undeserved hurt.

injustice applies to any act that involves unfairness to another or violation of one's rights.

the injustices suffered by the lower classes

injury applies in law specifically to an injustice for which one may sue to recover compensation.

libel constitutes a legal injury

wrong applies also in law to any act punishable according to the criminal code; it may apply more generally to any flagrant injustice.

determined to right society's wrongs

grievance applies to a circumstance or condition that constitutes an injustice to the sufferer and gives just ground for complaint.

a list of employee grievances

Examples of grievance in a Sentence

He has a deep sense of grievance against his former employer.

She has been nursing a grievance all week.

In the petition, the students listed their many grievances against the university administration.

Several customers came to the front desk to air their grievances.

Recent Examples on the Web

And Congress cannot pass any laws that abridge the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, or the right to peaceably assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances. —Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026

Heidner raised and spent the most to finish a distant fourth in what appeared to be largely a vanity campaign to address his personal grievances against Pritzker. —Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026

Turning to violence to settle a grievance is never the answer. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026

The grievances fueling anti-AI sentiment are broad and overlapping. —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English grevaunce, grevance "offense, ground for complaint, resentment, hardship, sickness," borrowed from Anglo-French, from grever "to be a burden to, harm, afflict" + -aunce, -ance -ance — more at grieve

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

grievance

noun

griev·​ance ˈgrē-vən(t)s 

1

: a cause of distress giving reason for complaint

2

: the formal expression of a grievance : complaint

Legal Definition

grievance

noun

griev·​ance ˈgrē-vəns 

1

: a cause of distress (as an unsatisfactory working condition or unfair labor practice) felt to afford a reason for complaint or dispute

especially : a violation of a collective bargaining agreement usually by the employer

2

: the formal expression of a grievance brought especially by an employee as the initial step toward resolution through a grievance procedure see also arbitration, grievance arbitration at arbitration, mediation