Complacencies

/kəmˈpleɪsənsiz/ noun

Definition

Plural of complacency; multiple instances or expressions of smug self-satisfaction, often indicating obliviousness to risks or problems.

Etymology

From complacency (the -cy variant spelling of complacence) + -ies plural. Both 'complacence' and 'complacency' coexist in English as variants, with complacency being more common in modern usage.

Kelly Says

English has the unusual situation of maintaining two nearly identical words—'complacence' and 'complacency'—where one should have died out. Their coexistence confuses many speakers, which is why 'complacency' has increasingly become the standard while 'complacence' retreats into formal writing and older texts.

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