grievance

[ gree-vuhns ]

noun

1. a wrong considered as grounds for complaint, or something believed to cause distress:

   Inequitable taxation is the chief grievance.

   Synonyms: distress, injury, hurt, injustice, affront

2. a complaint, as against an unjust or unfair act:

   to have a grievance against someone.

3. a feeling or belief that one has been wronged, oppressed, or is the victim of an injustice; resentment:

   The conflict on campus was described as the result of racial grievance or victim culture, depending on who reported it.

grievance

/ ˈɡriːvəns /

noun

1. a real or imaginary wrong causing resentment and regarded as grounds for complaint
2. a feeling of resentment or injustice at having been unfairly treated
3. obsolete.
   affliction or hardship

Other Words From

• pre·griev·ance noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of grievance¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English greva(u)nce, greva(u)ns “injury, offense, annoyance,” from Old French grevance “harm, injury, trouble, misfortune”; grieve, -ance

Word History and Origins

Origin of grievance¹

C15 grevance, from Old French, from grever to grieve ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see air one's grievances .

Example Sentences

In early October, Health Republic allowed me to submit a “grievance claim” which I filed, along with a pile of backup documents.

From The Daily Beast

Nor are they moved by outrage over inequality or appeals to class grievance.

From The Daily Beast

These were constituents with a grievance—local New York Jews, who were staging a non-violent protest to voice their concerns.

From The Daily Beast

We do our cause more harm than good if we get outrageously outraged over every slight and grievance.

From The Daily Beast

When the grievance committee, led by a Copé associate, declared Copé the winner again, Fillon demanded a re-vote; Copé dug in.

From The Daily Beast

It would make everyone careful, of course, but I fail to see any grievance in that.

From Project Gutenberg

And generally Mr. Crow forgot a grievance quickly, because he was sure to get angry with somebody else.

From Project Gutenberg

I have a mild grievance against that talented lady, Miss Marjorie Bowen, for labelling her latest novel "a romantic fantasy."

From Project Gutenberg

Her color had risen with the memory of yesterday's grievance, pushed aside by curiosity for some twenty-eight hours.

From Project Gutenberg

The friars had power of absolution, independently of the bishop; and it was a bitter grievance.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• grief
• hardship
• injustice
• objection
• outrage
• resentment
• sorrow
• unhappiness