Complication — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˌkäm-plə-ˈkā-shən/ com·pli·ca·tion

Meaning & Definition of Complication

Complication (noun)

  1. complexity, intricacy; especially, a situation or a detail of character complicating the main thread of a plot
  2. a making difficult, involved, or intricate
  3. a complex or intricate feature or element

Complication (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something that makes a situation more complicated or difficult

    "the food allergies of the guests were just another complication for the couple trying to plan their wedding reception"

    similar: complexity, complicacy, convolution, difficulty, intricacy, fly in the ointment
    related: aftereffect, ramification, side effect, subtlety, technicality, annoyance, bitch, bother, headache, inconvenience, matter, trouble

  2. an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning

    "complications set in after the surgery"

    similar: affection, ail, ailment, bug, complaint, condition, disease, disorder, distemper, distemperature, fever, ill, illness, infirmity, malady, sickness, trouble
    related: contagion, contagious disease, contagium, infection, attack, bout, fit, spell, debility, decrepitude, feebleness, frailness, lameness, sickliness, unhealthiness, unsoundness, unwellness, weakness, malaise, matter, pip, epidemic, pest, pestilence, plague
    opposite: health, wellness
    near: fitness, healthiness, heartiness, robustness, soundness, wholeness, wholesomeness, fettle, shape

  3. the state or quality of having many interrelated parts or aspects

    "a problem of such irreducible complication as to defy any easy solution"

    similar: complexity, complexness, complicacy, complicatedness, elaborateness, intricacy, intricateness, involution, knottiness, sophistication
    related: diversity, heterogeneity, heterogeneousness, multifariousness, impenetrability, incomprehensibility, inexplicability
    opposite: plainness, simpleness, simplicity
    near: simplification, homogeneity, uniformity

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Complication

The most common words with a similar meaning to Complication:

complexity, complicacy, convolution, difficulty, intricacy, affection, ail, ailment, bug, complaint, condition, disease, disorder, distemper, distemperature, fever, ill, illness, infirmity, malady, sickness, trouble, complexness, complicatedness, elaborateness, intricateness, involution, knottiness, sophistication, fly in the ointment

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Complication

Words with the opposite meaning of Complication:

health, wellness, plainness, simpleness, simplicity

Related Words for Complication

aftereffect, ramification, side effect, subtlety, technicality, annoyance, bitch, bother, headache, inconvenience, matter, contagion, contagious disease, contagium, infection, attack, bout, fit, spell, debility, decrepitude, feebleness, frailness, lameness, sickliness, unhealthiness, unsoundness, unwellness, weakness, malaise

Near Antonyms of Complication

fitness, healthiness, heartiness, robustness, soundness, wholeness, wholesomeness, fettle, shape, simplification, homogeneity, uniformity

Origin & Etymology of Complication

Middle English complicacioun, borrowed from Late Latin complicātiōn-, complicātiō "folding together, conglomeration," from Latin complicāre "to fold together, fold up" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action complicate:2

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Complication

Frequently Asked Questions about Complication

What does "Complication" mean?

"Complication" means complexity, intricacy; especially, a situation or a detail of character complicating the main thread of a plot. As a noun, it is defined as: complexity, intricacy; especially, a situation or a detail of character complicating the main thread of a plot. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Complication"?

Other words for "Complication" include complexity, complicacy, convolution, difficulty, intricacy, affection, ail and ailment. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Complication" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Complication"?

There are 72 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Complication". Common alternatives include complexity, complicacy, convolution, difficulty, intricacy, affection, ail, ailment, bug and complaint.

What is the opposite of "Complication"?

Antonyms of "Complication" include health, wellness, plainness, simpleness and simplicity. Near antonyms include fitness, healthiness, heartiness and robustness.

How do you use "Complication" in a sentence?

Examples of "Complication" in a sentence: "the food allergies of the guests were just another complication for the couple trying to plan their wedding reception"; "complications set in after the surgery"; "a problem of such irreducible complication as to defy any easy solution".

Is "Complication" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Complication" is a noun.

Is "Complication" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Complication" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Complication"?

"Complication" is pronounced /ˌkäm-plə-ˈkā-shən/ and divided into syllables as com·pli·ca·tion.