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complaint
[ kuhm-pleynt ]
noun
- an expression of discontent, regret, pain, censure, resentment, or grief; lament; faultfinding:
his complaint about poor schools.
- a cause of discontent, pain, grief, lamentation, etc.
- a cause of bodily pain or ailment; malady:
The doctor says I suffer from a rare complaint.
- Law. the first pleading of the plaintiff in a civil action, stating the cause of action.
complaint
/ kəmˈpleɪnt /
noun
- the act of complaining; an expression of grievance
- a cause for complaining; grievance
- a mild ailment
- English law a statement by which a civil proceeding in a magistrates' court is commenced
Other Words From
- coun·ter·com·plaint noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of complaint1
Example Sentences
Employee unions promptly struck back with a May 2023 lawsuit as well as a formal labor complaint.
The visit was to arrange a time to do an interview as part of an investigation into alleged incitement to racial hatred, following a complaint from a member of the public, the force said.
A staff member at the hotel described a belligerent and “very intoxicated” Hegseth shouting about his right to “freedom of speech” near the pool after guest complaints.
According to the original complaint, Brentwood police were sent to Ulta Beauty Supply, a cosmetics store, on Feb. 10, 2020, after an employee reported that three women had shoplifted several items.
All good and no complaints, but I was losing some joy for what I was doing.
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More About Complaint
What does complaint mean?
A complaint is a statement about something you’re unhappy or upset about. It has more specific meanings in legal and medical contexts.
Complaint is the noun form of the verb complain. In legal terms, a complaint is the document that officially initiates a legal proceeding. In medicine, it refers to a symptom or cause of pain as reported by a patient.
Example: I liked the movie, but my one complaint is that the women in the cast didn’t get enough screen time.
Where does complaint come from?
The first records of complaint come from the 1300s. It ultimately derives from the Latin planctus, meaning “the striking or beating of one’s breast in grief.” Planctus is equivalent to the Latin verb plang(ere), meaning “to strike” or “to mourn for.” (This sense of mourning is seen in the related word plaintive, which means “mournful” or “expressing sorrow.”)
When people complain, they are stating complaints. But complaints can be more serious than saying that you wish it weren’t raining. Sometimes, complaints are made (especially lodged or filed) in an official way, such as a complaint against a fellow employee, or a government whistle-blower complaint. In a legal context, complaints can be filed in both criminal and civil cases. In a criminal case, the complaint makes the charges official. In a civil case, the complaint is filed by the plaintiff (sometimes called the complainant). It initiates a lawsuit by providing general information about the nature of the claim and giving notice to the person or party that the lawsuit is being brought against. In medicine, complaint typically refers to the symptom that someone is seeking medical assistance for, as in The patient presented with a complaint of numbness in his left knee.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to complaint?
- complain (verb)
- countercomplaint (noun)
What are some synonyms for complaint?
What are some words that share a root or word element with complaint?
What are some words that often get used in discussing complaint?
How is complaint used in real life?
Complaint is very commonly used in a general way to refer to any expression of dissatisfaction. But it often indicates some degree of official status. In legal and medical contexts, it has a more specific meaning and is used in a more serious tone.
If your biggest complaint right now is that you are bored, that means you are doing pretty great.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 19, 2020
It’s not often that I find ischemic strokes presenting with a headache as the chief complaint. Last night a 84 yo had 2 days of a right sided HA. Her daughter noted some slight confusion but not currently. Normal exam. 2 day old Right sided temporal lobe infarct on CT.
— Travis Smith, D.O. (@RosenelliEM) June 24, 2019
Apsey confirms that conversations between Boise State and the Mountain West continue after the school filed a complaint against the conference pertaining to its latest TV deal.
— Ron Counts (@Ron_BroncoBeat) March 19, 2020
Try using complaint!
Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of complaint?
- grievance
- accusation
- statement
- gripe
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