complexity
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the quality of having many different parts that are connected in a difficult way.
the abstract state or quality of being intricate, multifaceted, or difficult to analyse. Uncountable in this general sense.
Simple“The complexity of the new tax laws makes them very hard for most people to follow.”
In context“The sheer complexity of the global supply chain means that a single disruption in one port can affect prices worldwide.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'of' followed by a noun phrase.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
a specific part of something that is difficult to deal with or understand.
a specific intricate detail or complication within a larger system. Countable in this sense.
Simple“We need to consider all the complexities of the situation before we make a final decision.”
In context“The legal team spent months navigating the complexities of the international merger to ensure full compliance with local regulations.”
UsageFrequently used in the plural form 'complexities' to refer to various difficult aspects of a topic.
Synonyms
Usage add complexity · increase complexity · increased complexity
“Hysteroscopies are common procedures – classed by the NHS as “high volume low complexity”.”
“If we couldn’t make generalisations, we would be paralysed by the world’s complexity.”
From complex + -ity. Partially displaced native English manifoldness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.