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

Police confirmed on Monday that no investigation had yet been launched, but the complaint would be assessed. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025

The information in my complaint was from a long-ago completed investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2025

The complaint, first reported by Front Office Sports, was filed last Friday. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 Jan. 2025

This raises an interesting point: For all the complaints about big-market clubs disrupting the game’s payroll structure, the more those teams spend, the more lower-revenue teams benefit. —Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025

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