complaint

noun

com·​plaint kəm-ˈplānt 

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.

Synonyms

• beef
• bitch
• bleat
• carp
• fuss
• grievance
• gripe
• grouch
• grouse
• grumble
• holler
• kvetch
• lament
• miserere
• moan
• murmur
• plaint
• squawk
• wail
• whimper
• whine
• whinge [British]
• yammer

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 on the Web

In the scheme detailed in the complaint, Berman hatched a plan in March 2020 to use the pandemic to solve the Westlake Village, Calif.-biotech’s financial problems. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024

When news media circulated the Los Angeles police beating video of Rodney King in 1991, local police pointed to the decline in complaints. —Richard J. Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Apr. 2024

According to the complaint, Ohtani did not grant Mizuhara access to the account from which Mizuhara allegedly transferred more than $16 million to a bookmaker, nor did Ohtani realize the transfers had been made until Mizuhara told him following the season-opening game in South Korea. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024

The complaint states Ford fled the scene without exchanging his information. —The Enquirer, 12 Apr. 2024

The original criminal complaint stated Miu had brandished a knife when two females confronted him before a physical altercation broke out. —Andy Rose, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024

One complaint from Airlines for America centers on restrictions that the Chinese government put on American carriers as part of its pandemic response, which severely curtailed their operations in the country. —Melvin Backman, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024

Field tests were positive for the presence of fentanyl in both buys, according to the complaint. —Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 12 Apr. 2024

But that wasn't always the case, said the complaint. —Catherine Reagor, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English compleynte, from Anglo-French compleint, from compleindre — see complain

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing complaint

• counter-complaint
• grounds for complaint

Kids Definition

complaint

noun

com·​plaint kəm-ˈplānt 

1

: expression of grief, pain, or resentment

2

a

: a cause or reason for complaining

the noise was her biggest complaint

b

: a pain or sickness in the body

3

: a charge of illegal wrongdoing against a person

Medical Definition

complaint

noun

com·​plaint kəm-ˈplānt 

: a bodily ailment or disease

bloating and other digestive complaints

—Christine Gorman

Legal Definition

complaint

noun

com·​plaint

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