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complaint definition

com·plaint (kəm plānt′)

noun

  1. the act of complaining; utterance of pain, displeasure, annoyance, etc.
  2. a subject or cause for complaining; grievance
  3. an illness; ailment
  4. Law a pleading setting forth the plaintiff's case or cause of action; formal charge or accusation

Etymology: ME complainte < OFr < complaindre

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

business complaint definition - business

law complaint definition - legal

complaint Synonyms

complaint

n.

  1. An objection

    grievance, charge, criticism, reproach; see accusation 2, objection 1, 2.

  2. An illness

    ailment, malady, infirmity; see disease, illness 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

complaint Usage Examples

Preposition: about

  • maladministration: The European Ombudsman can consider any complaint about maladministration on the part of one of the bodies covered by the scheme.

Converse of object

  • uphold: We did not uphold the complaint against the PCT.

Adjective modifier

  • formal: His belief the decision had been taken inappropriately formed the basis of his second formal complaint.

Modifies a noun

  • procedure: Full details of the insurer's complaints procedure will be set out in your policy booklet.

Noun used with modifier

  • endowment: My client is having great problems getting her mortgage endowment mis-selling complaint sorted.

Preposition: of

  • harassment: It will investigate complaints of harassment, which should normally be directed through the official grievance procedure.
complaint usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

complaint quotes

Much in life cannot be affected†but must be borne†without complaint, because complaints are a bore†and undermine the serenity essential to endurance.

-Acheson, Dean Gooderham

Nothing really wrong with himöonlyanno domini, but that's the most fatal complaint of all, in the end.

-Hilton,James

complaint quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"complaint." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/complaint>

APA Style

complaint. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/complaint

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