Complaints

/kəmˈpleɪnts/ noun

Definition

Statements expressing dissatisfaction or annoyance about something, or formal statements saying something is wrong.

Etymology

From Old French 'complainte' meaning lamentation, from 'complendre' to lament. The root 'plangere' means to strike or beat the breast in grief.

Kelly Says

Complaints are linguistically fascinating—they appear in every human culture we've discovered, and children start complaining around age 2, suggesting it's a deeply human way of signaling unmet needs and bonding with others through shared grievances.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.