Word
complaint
Phoneticscom·plaint, stress on the second syllable
US/kəmˈpɫeɪnt/
UK/kəmplˈeɪnt/
Definitions
01expression of dissatisfaction
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a statement that you are unhappy or not satisfied with a situation or service.
n. the act of expressing dissatisfaction or the statement itself regarding a perceived grievance.
日本語:苦情※
“The customer made a formal complaint because the waiter was very rude.”
“The department received a formal complaint regarding the lack of transparency in the recent promotion process.”
Usage
Often used with the verbs 'make', 'file', or 'lodge'.
Pitfall
I want to make a complain about the food.
I want to make a complaint about the food.
Use 'complain' as a verb and 'complaint' as a noun.
Antonyms
02legal accusation
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Formal · Technical
n. a formal legal document that starts a case or accuses someone of a crime.
n. a formal legal document that sets out the facts and legal reasons for a lawsuit or a criminal charge.
日本語:訴状※
“The lawyer filed a complaint against the company for breaking the contract.”
“The plaintiff's attorney drafted a civil complaint alleging breach of fiduciary duty and seeking compensatory damages.”
Usage
In legal contexts, this is a countable noun referring to a specific document.
Synonyms
03medical illness
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Medicine Formal
n. an illness or a medical problem, usually one that is not very serious.
n. a physical ailment or medical disorder, often used when describing symptoms to a doctor.
“He went to the doctor because of a persistent stomach complaint.”
“The patient presented with a minor respiratory complaint that had persisted for several weeks despite over-the-counter treatment.”
Teaching tip
This is a more formal way to say 'illness' or 'problem' in a medical context.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “complaint” in context.
Verb
01. deal with a complaint
“Our customer service team is trained to deal with every complaint quickly and fairly.”
verb + prep + noun
02. file a complaint
“The customer decided to file a complaint after his flight was cancelled without notice.”
verb + noun
03. make a complaint
“If you are not happy with the service, you should make a complaint to the manager.”
verb + noun
04. receive a complaint
“The restaurant received a complaint about the food being cold.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. common complaint
“A common complaint among students is that they have too much homework.”
adj + noun
06. formal complaint
“She submitted a formal complaint to the human resources department.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. complaint procedure
“Please follow the official complaint procedure if you wish to report an issue.”
noun + noun
08. letter of complaint
“I am writing this letter of complaint to express my disappointment with the product.”
noun + of + noun
Etymology
From Middle English compleynte, from Anglo-Norman compleint, from Old French compleindre, eventually from Latin planctus (whence plaint).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/complaint
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0