A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a particular situation.
There's been a record number of complaints about the standard of service on Britain'srailways. [+ about]
People have been reluctant to make formal complaints to the police.
If you feel you have any cause for complaint about the service you should write tothe Hospital Administrator.
Synonyms: protest, accusation, objection, grievance More Synonyms of complaint
2. countable noun
A complaint is a reason for complaining.
If you have a complaint about shoes bought from a shop covered by the Footwear Code,there are several ways of putting the matter right.
I've got no complaints about them.
My main complaint is that we can't go out on the racecourse anymore.
3. countable noun
You can refer to an illness as a complaint, especially if it is not very serious.
Eczema is a common skin complaint which often runs in families.
Synonyms: disorder, problem, trouble, disease More Synonyms of complaint
More Synonyms of complaint
complaint in British English
(kəmˈpleɪnt)
noun
1.
the act of complaining; an expression of grievance
2.
a cause for complaining; grievance
3.
a mild ailment
4. English law
a statement by which a civil proceeding in a magistrates' court is commenced
complaint in American English
(kəmˈpleɪnt)
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
Word origin
ME complainte < OFr < complaindre
complaint in Hospitality
(kəmpleɪnt)
Word forms: (regular plural) complaints
noun
(Hospitality (hotel): Reservations and checking in and out)
A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a situation.
COLLOCATIONS: make a ~
There have been a number of complaints about the standard of service.
If you wish to make a written complaint, send this to the manager.
His main complaints were about the poor quality of the food.
Talking about complaintsIf you make a complaint, you complain about something.If you have, get or receive a complaint, someone complains to you about something for which you are responsible.
COBUILD Collocations
complaint
dismiss a complaint
file a complaint
frequent complaint
handle a complaint
ignore complaints
lodge a complaint
minor complaint
noise complaint
numerous complaints
official complaint
receive a complaint
reject a complaint
resolve a complaint
similar complaint
skin complaint
spark a complaint
submit a complaint
uphold a complaint
Examples of 'complaint' in a sentence
complaint
There is neither independent regulation nor redress in case of complaint.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Three federation officers are under investigation by the police complaints watchdog over their conduct during the affair.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The complaints system is often a farce.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The leaflet provides a hotline number for complaints.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Throughout the campaign the most common complaint heard was that people just did not understand the issues.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
My only serious complaint was the food.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This year the top dressing is softer after complaints of the courts being too slippery.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Let your neighbour know you intend to make a formal complaint to the council.
The Sun (2010)
Then his main complaint was about the perennial rumours that he and his wife were splitting up.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
My book our house your case his complaint her drill their position.
Marius, Richard A Short Guide to Writing About History (1995)
The first step is to make a formal complaint to the police.
The Sun (2015)
On internet forums there are complaints that service cover and insurance were sold when they were not needed.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It said it had received a rising number of complaints from households over cowboy outfits and rogue traders.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Pressure is growing on energy firms to improve their service after consumer complaints trebled in the first quarter of this year.
The Sun (2014)
The Times takes complaints about editorial content seriously.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Complaints about critical illness cover have shot up 55 per cent in the past year.
The Sun (2012)
Then again, you might have a serious complaint.
The Sun (2010)
I have been referred to the complaints department but no one has called me.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He also had to treat soldiers for illnesses and complaints including burns to the skin caused by the Nairobi fly.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
complaint
British English: complaint /kəmˈpleɪnt/ NOUN
A complaint is a statement of dissatisfaction about a situation.
There were nearly 1 million passenger complaints last year.
American English: complaint
Arabic: شَكْوَى
Brazilian Portuguese: reclamação
Chinese: 抱怨
Croatian: pritužba
Czech: stížnost
Danish: klage reklamation
Dutch: klacht
European Spanish: queja
Finnish: valitus
French: plainte
German: Beschwerde
Greek: παράπονο
Italian: reclamo
Japanese: 不平
Korean: 불평하기
Norwegian: klage
Polish: skarga
European Portuguese: reclamação
Romanian: plângere
Russian: жалоба
Latin American Spanish: queja
Swedish: klagomål
Thai: ความไม่พอใจ
Turkish: şikayet
Ukrainian: скарга
Vietnamese: lời phàn nàn
All related terms of 'complaint'
bowel complaint
bowel disease or condition
heart complaint
a medical condition affecting the operation of the heart
liver complaint
an unspecified health problem concerning the liver
minor complaint
A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a particular situation.
noise complaint
A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a particular situation.
skin complaint
You can refer to an illness as a complaint , especially if it is not very serious .
frequent complaint
A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a particular situation.
official complaint
A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a particular situation.
similar complaint
A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a particular situation .
file a complaint
A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a particular situation.
handle a complaint
A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a particular situation.
lodge a complaint
A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a particular situation.
make a complaint
If a guest makes a complaint , they express their dissatisfaction with something.
reject a complaint
A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a particular situation.
spark a complaint
A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a particular situation.
submit a complaint
A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a particular situation.
uphold a complaint
A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a particular situation.
dismiss a complaint
A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a particular situation.
receive a complaint
A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a particular situation.
resolve a complaint
A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a particular situation.
respond to a complaint
If you respond to a complaint , you answer a customer who expressed their dissatisfaction with something.
Chinese translation of 'complaint'
complaint
(kəmˈpleɪnt)
n
(c) (= criticism) 抱怨 (bàoyuàn) (个(個), gè)
(u) (= complaining) 投诉(訴) (tóusù)
(c) (= reason for complaining) 抱怨的原因 (bàoyuàn de yuányīn)
(c) (= illness) 疾病 (jíbìng) (次, cì)
to make a complaint (to sb)(向某人)投诉(訴) ((xiàng mǒurén) tóusù)
1 (noun)
Definition
a formal protest
There have been a number of complaints about the standard of service.
Synonyms
protest
a protest against people's growing economic hardship
accusation
people who have made public accusations of wrongdoing
objection
This objection has obviously been dropped.
grievance
They felt they had a legitimate grievance.
remonstrance (formal)
charge
They appeared at court to deny charges of murder.
2 (noun)
Definition
a reason for complaining
I don't have any complaints about the way I've been treated.
Synonyms
grumble
My grumble is with the structure and organization of the material.
criticism
beef (slang)
I really don't have a beef with Wayne.
moan
They have been listening to people's gripes and moans.
bitch (slang)
lament
The lament that polititians only care about power is heard constantly.
grievance
wail
Wails of grief were heard as visitors filed past the site of the disaster.
dissatisfaction
annoyance
grouse
There have been grouses about the economy, interest rates and house prices.
gripe (informal)
My only gripe is that just one main course and one dessert were available.
grouch (informal)
One of their biggest grouches is the new system of payment.
plaint
fault-finding
3 (noun)
Definition
a mild illness
Eczema is a common skin complaint.
Synonyms
disorder
a rare nerve disorder that can cause paralysis of the arms
problem
trouble
He had never before had any heart trouble.
disease
illnesses such as heart disease
upset
Paul was unwell last night with a stomach upset.
illness
She returned to her family home to recover from an illness.
sickness
a sickness that affects children
ailment
The pharmacist can assist you with the treatment of common ailments.
affliction
Hay fever is an affliction that arrives at an early age.
malady
He was stricken at twenty-one with a crippling malady.
indisposition
Additional synonyms
in the sense of accusation
Definition
a formal charge brought against a person
people who have made public accusations of wrongdoing
Synonyms
charge,
complaint,
allegation,
indictment,
impeachment,
recrimination,
citation,
denunciation,
attribution,
imputation,
arraignment,
incrimination
in the sense of affliction
Definition
something that causes physical or mental suffering
Hay fever is an affliction that arrives at an early age.
Synonyms
misfortune,
suffering,
trouble,
trial,
disease,
pain,
distress,
grief,
misery,
plague (informal),
curse,
ordeal,
sickness,
torment,
hardship,
sorrow,
woe,
adversity,
calamity,
scourge,
tribulation,
wretchedness
in the sense of ailment
Definition
a slight illness
The pharmacist can assist you with the treatment of common ailments.