complaint
/kəmˈpleɪnt
/noun
1A statement that something is unsatisfactory or unacceptable: I intend to make an official complaint there were complaints that the building was an eyesore...
- She refused to say whether she has received complaints that firms are feasting at the city trough.
- I feel that because of the tremendous amount of complaints that they received last year they felt they had to do something.
- Some of the worst complaints that I received were about what was happening inside the interrogation rooms.
Synonyms
protest, protestation, objection, remonstrance, statement of dissatisfaction, grievance, charge, accusation, criticism;
cavil, quibble, grumble, moan, whine
Australian informal yike
informal beef, gripe, grouse, grouch, whinge
Law, British plaint
1.1A reason for dissatisfaction: I have no complaints about the hotel...
- So it is natural for people to have an opportunity to speak out about their complaints and dissatisfactions.
- When I contacted the hotel about your complaint, he called you to apologize for the inconvenience and to ask what the hotel could do to make things right with you.
- It is interesting to note that few women have complaints about job-related problems.
1.2 [mass noun] The expression of dissatisfaction: a letter of complaint he hasn’t any cause for complaint...
- The month-long trial was scrapped after takings plunged by £26,000 in 13 days and students fired off almost 100 letters of complaint.
- A friend of mine in the US subsequently wrote in to the offices of Power 99 FM, the station that had suddenly been flooded with letters of complaint.
- The EMA said the Chase Village resident who wrote the letter of complaint was invited to contact the authority if he wanted further information or clarification.
Synonyms
protesting, protestation, objection, exception, grievance, grumbling, carping, whining, moaning, muttering, murmuring;
criticism, fault-finding, condemnation, disapproval, dissatisfaction, fulmination, outcry, fuss
informal beefing, bitching, whingeing, griping, grousing, grouching, bellyaching, nitpicking
Northern English informal mithering
1.3 Law The plaintiff’s reasons for proceeding in a civil action.Was the investigation of the complaint against the plaintiff negligent?...
- At the outset of his investigation he was made aware of a previous complaint about the plaintiff which did not result in any charges being laid.
- He went through the chronology of the complaints made by the plaintiffs.
2An illness or medical condition, especially a relatively minor one: she is receiving treatment for her skin complaint...
- Many diseases or medical conditions have vertigo as an associated complaint, Gantz notes.
- Iwan said that his uncle had a number of medical complaints such as hepatitis and diabetes.
- Minerva has long believed that stress can trigger skin complaints, although some dermatologists disagree.
Synonyms
disorder, disease, infection, affliction, illness, ailment, sickness, malady, malaise, infirmity, indisposition, weakness, condition, problem, upset;
trouble
informal bug, virus
British informal lurgy
Australian informal wog
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French complainte, feminine past participle of complaindre 'to lament' (see complain).