complaintcom‧plaint /kəmˈpleɪnt/ ●●●S3W3 noun1[countable, uncountable]COMPLAIN a statement in which someone complains about somethingIf you wish to make a complaint, you should see the manager.The sales assistants are trained to deal with customer complaints in a friendly manner.complaint aboutKeating was dismissed after complaints about the quality of his work.complaint ofcomplaints of police brutalitycomplaint from/tocomplaints from local residentsa complaint to the Advertising Standards Authoritycomplaint againstAll complaints against police officers are carefully investigated.complaint thatWe are concerned by complaints that children are being bullied.2[countable]COMPLAIN something that you complain aboutOur main complaint was the poor standard of service.My only complaint is that the price is rather high.3[countable]MI formal an illness that affects a particular part of your bodyHe is having treatment for a chest complaint.► see thesaurus at illnessCOLLOCATIONSverbsmake a complaint (=complain formally to someone)The manager of the team decided to make a complaint about the referee.file/lodge a complaint formal (=make a complaint)She filed a complaint against several of her colleagues.have a complaint (=want to complain about something)Please let us know if you have any complaints about our service.bring a complaint against somebody formal (=complain in a formal, legal way)Higgins brought a complaint against his former manager.receive a complaint (also have a complaint)Our department has received a number of complaints from the public.deal with/handle a complaintPolice officers came to the house to deal with a complaint about noise.investigate a complaintThe dog was rescued after officials investigated a complaint of neglect.uphold a complaint (=say it is reasonable)The complaint was upheld and the advertisement was withdrawn.a complaint concerns something/relates to somethingWe have received a number of complaints concerning faulty goods.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + complainta formal/official complaintThe man has lodged a formal complaint against the police.a common/widespread/frequent complaintA common complaint of children is that parents do not listen to them.a serious complaintSerious complaints of negligence have been made.a customer/consumer complaintAs a result of the improvements, customer complaints went down by 70%.a bitter complaint (=a very angry one)The people are full of bitter complaints about their government.a familiar complaint (=one that you have heard many times)A lack of good public transport is a familiar complaint.phrasescause/grounds for complaint (=a good reason to complain)I do not think that he has any cause for complaint.a letter of complaintI wrote a letter of complaint to the hospital manager.a complaints procedure (=a system for dealing with complaints)There is a very straightforward complaints procedure you must follow.THESAURUScomplaint something that you say or write when you are complaining, especially to someone in an officialpositionIf you have any complaints, please contact our customer relations department.Our main complaint is the poor standard of service.If you have a complaint, you should write to the manager. | make a complaintSome employees are worried about what will happen to them if they make a complaint. | complaint aboutKeating was dismissed after complaints about the quality of his work. | formal complaintMr Kelly has made a formal complaint against the police. | letters of complaintThe commission has so far received nearly 10,000 letters of complaint.protest when someone complains publicly about something that they think is wrong or unfair and should not be allowed to happenDespite their protests, the students’ fees were increased. | in protest (=as a way of making a protest)When two members of the team were dismissed, the rest of them walked out in protest. | protest againstThe ambassador lodged a formal protest against the proposals. | ignore somebody’s protestsIgnoring my protests, he took off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders.grievance something that you feel unhappy about because you think that you have been treated unfairly – use this especially about an official complaint you make about the place where you work: file a grievance (=officially complain)She filed a grievance last year after her supervisor refused to promote her. | grievance againstAnyone who has a legitimate grievance against the company can take it to the arbitration committee. | air a grievance (=discuss a grievance publicly)The meetings give employees the opportunity to express their views or air grievances.