complaint

complaint — noun

1. something you say or write to show that you are unhappy with a situation, person

1.nounB1
Definition

something you say or write to show that you are unhappy with a situation, person, product, or service

Example

Leila made a complaint to the hotel manager about the noisy room next door.

make a complaint to [person] about [topic]

The bakery on Elm Street received three complaints last week about its bread being stale.

receive a complaint about [issue]

Common collocations
  • make a complaint
  • file a complaint
  • lodge a complaint
  • formal complaint
  • complaint about
Synonyms
  • grievance

    more formal, often used in workplace or legal settings

  • objection

    focuses on disagreeing with a specific point rather than general dissatisfaction

  • protest

    implies a stronger, more active expression of disapproval, often public

Antonyms
  • praise

    a positive expression about something instead of a negative one

  • compliment

    a polite expression of praise or admiration

Grammar Patterns

make/lodge/file a complaint + about + topic

have a complaint + about + issue

complaint + that-clause

Usage Note

Countable when referring to a specific incident ("three complaints"); uncountable when describing the act in general ("a letter of complaint"). Often paired with verbs such as make, file, lodge, or submit.

Common Mistakes

I want to make a complaint for the dirty room.
I want to make a complaint about the dirty room.
use 'about' not 'for' after 'complaint' when stating the reason.
She made a complaint to the police for the noise.
She made a complaint to the police about the noise.
the topic of the complaint follows 'about'.

2. a minor health problem that affects a specific part of your body, such as your h

2.nounB2
Definition

a minor health problem that affects a specific part of your body, such as your head, stomach, or chest

Example

Ravi went to the doctor with a stomach complaint that had been troubling him for days.

stomach complaint — body part + complaint

Older patients often visit the clinic with minor complaints like back pain or joint stiffness.

minor complaint — adjective describing severity

Common collocations
  • stomach complaint
  • chest complaint
  • skin complaint
  • minor complaint
Synonyms
  • ailment

    slightly more formal, common in medical writing

  • condition

    more general, can be serious or chronic

  • disorder

    more clinical, suggests a specific diagnosis

Grammar Patterns

[body part] + complaint

complaint + of + symptom

Usage Note

Typically describes non-serious health issues and appears often in medical or clinical contexts. The specific body part usually precedes 'complaint' (e.g. 'chest complaint', 'skin complaint').

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words express dissatisfaction, but they differ in formality and scope. A grievance is a formal, often written complaint about unfair treatment, typically in a workplace or legal setting — you file a grievance with HR, not with a shop assistant. An objection is a specific point of disagreement with an idea, rule, or proposal: "The lawyer raised an objection to the evidence." A protest is a stronger, often public or collective show of disapproval, such as a march or a demonstration. Criticism is the broadest term — it can be constructive or destructive, formal or casual, and does not necessarily imply that you want something fixed. For everyday situations (a faulty product, bad service, a noisy neighbour), complaint is the most natural and widely used word.

grievance ↗objection ↗protest ↗criticism ↗

Common collocations

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Complaint entered English in the 14th century from Old French 'compleint', meaning 'lamentation' or 'grief'. The French word came from Vulgar Latin 'complangere', based on Latin 'com-' (together) and 'plangere' (to beat one's chest in grief). The sense shifted from 'expression of sorrow' to 'expression of dissatisfaction' by the late 1300s, and the medical meaning ('a minor illness') appeared in the early 18th century.