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

Attorneys for the owner said in a statement that the owner and the DOJ reached the agreement, which was reached immediately after the complaint was filed, to avoid prolonged litigation. —Landon Mion, Fox News, 18 Jan. 2025

At first, the school board reacted to the complaints by saying parents could have their children excused from the class when the new textbooks were being used or discussed. —David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025

For its part, Walgreens has not filed a legal answer to the complaint yet, but did issue a short response denying any wrongdoing. —Steve Weisman, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025

The auto safety regulator received 39 complaints and a number of early warning reporting field reports from vehicle owners, who also said there was no detectability prior to engine failures. —CNN, 17 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