What is Complaint in English? Which preposition is used with Complaint in English?

Meaning

Example

a statement that something is wrong or not satisfactory

• The customer lodged a complaint about the faulty product and requested a refund. 
• Her biggest complaint about the hotel was the lack of cleanliness in the rooms. 

an illness, disease, disorder

• She sought medical advice for her persistent stomach complaint. 
• The elderly woman was admitted to the hospital with a cardiac complaint. 

Verbs used with Complaint in English

Example

make a complaint

• If you are dissatisfied with the service, please feel free to make a complaint to our customer support team.

have a complaint

• I have a complaint about the poor quality of the product I purchased.

bring a complaint against somebody

• The employee decided to bring a complaint against her supervisor for workplace harassment. 

receive a complaint

• The customer service department received a complaint about the faulty product. 

file/ lodge/ submit /register a complaint

• She decided to file a complaint with the company's HR department regarding the unfair treatment she experienced. 
• The tenant lodged a complaint with the landlord about the recurring plumbing issues in the apartment. (The tenant filed a complaint with the landlord about frequent problems with the apartment's plumbing system.)

deal with/ handle a complaint

• The supervisor was assigned to handle the complaint. 
• The customer service representative was trained to deal with customer complaints in a professional and empathetic manner. 

investigate a complaint

• The company's internal affairs department was assigned to investigate the employee's complaint of workplace harassment. 

uphold a complaint

• After careful review, the ombudsman upheld the customer's complaint and ordered the company to provide a refund. 

a complaint concerns something

• The tenant's complaint concerns the lack of maintenance and repairs in the rented property.

a complaint relates to something

• The customer's complaint relates to the accurate information provided on the company's website. 

complaint arise

• An employee complaint arose due to the sudden change in working conditions without prior notice. 

suffer from complaint

• He has been suffering from a persistent skin complaint for years. 

Adjectives used with Complaint in English

Example

formal/ official complaint

• The customer submitted a formal complaint to the company's management regarding the poor customer service. 
• The employee filed an official complaint with the human resources department about workplace discrimination. 

common/ widespread/ frequent complaint

• The long wait times at the doctor's office were a common complaint among the patients. 
• A widespread complaint among the residents was the lack of proper maintenance in the apartment complex. 

serious complaint

• The customer had a serious complaint about the product's safety, prompting a product recall. 

bitter complaint

• She lodged a bitter complaint against her business partner for breaching their contract and causing financial losses. 

familiar complaint

• The delay in public transportation was a familiar complaint among commuters in the city.

main/ chief complaint

• The main complaint from the customers was the high prices of the products compared to competitors. 
• The chief complaint from the employees was the lack of communication and transparency from the management. 

Nouns used with Complaint in English

Example

customer/ consumer complaint

• The company received a customer complaint regarding the defective product they purchased. 
• The consumer complaint was resolved satisfactorily by the company's customer support team. 

complaint 

procedure

• The organization has a well-defined complaint procedure in place to ensure prompt resolution of customer concerns. 

complaint 

system

• The online complaint system allows customers to easily submit their complaints and track their resolution progress. 

complaint policy

• The organization has a strict complaint policy that ensures all complaints are thoroughly investigated and resolved. 

complaint letter

• The company received a formal complaint letter from a client satisfied with the quality of services provided. 

complaint process

• The company has streamlined its complaint process to ensure efficient handling and resolution of customer complaints. 

Phrases used with Complaint in English

Example

cause for complaint

The delayed delivery and damaged packaging provided ample cause for complaint from the customers. 

grounds for complaint

The misleading advertisement provided solid grounds for complaint from the consumers. 

chorus of complaint

The faulty product received a chorus of complaint from dissatisfied customers. 

letter of complaint

He wrote a strongly worded letter of complaint to the airline regarding the mishandling of his luggage. 

stream of complaints

The defective product generated a continuous stream of complaints from customers.

basis for complaint

The company's unethical business practices were a clear basis for complaint from concerned stakeholders.

Which preposition is used with Complaint in English?

Preposition used with Complaint in English

Example

complaint about somebody/ something

• The employee filed a complaint about their supervisor's inappropriate behavior in the workplace. 
• The customer made a complaint about the poor quality of the product they purchased. 

complaint of something

• The patient's complaint of severe abdominal pain prompted further medical investigation. 
• The tenant made a complaint of excessive noise coming from the neighboring apartment.

complaint against somebody/ something

• The employee lodged a formal complaint against their coworker for workplace harassment.
• The consumer filed a complaint against the company for misleading advertising. 

complaint to somebody

• The dissatisfied customer made a complaint to the customer service representative about the unsatisfactory service. 
• The employee voiced their complaint to the Human Resource manager regarding the unfair treatment they experienced. 

complaint from somebody (about something)

• The company received multiple complaints from customers about the poor quality of the product. 
• The school administration received a complaint from a parent about the lack of extracurricular activities for their child. 

complaint by somebody

• Complaints by employees regarding workplace safety have urged management to conduct a thorough review. 
• Complaints by residents about the noisy construction work results in the implementation of stricter regulations. 

Synonyms of Complaint in English

Meaning

Example

protest

/ˈprəʊtest/

a strong complaint expressing disagreement, disapproval, or opposition

The ongoing protests against government corruption have urged the authorities to take immediate action. 

grievance

/ˈɡriːvens/

a strong feeling that you have been treated unfairly

The student filed a formal grievance with the school administration regarding the unfair grading system. 

criticism

/ˈkrɪtɪsɪzəm/

the act of giving your opinion or judgment about the good or bad qualities of something or someone

The politician received widespread criticism for his controversial statements on social media. 

sickness

/ˈsɪknəs/

the state or condition of being ill, or a disease

She stayed home from work due to a sudden sickness. 

illness

/ˈɪlnəs/

He was diagnosed with a severe illness. 

Antonyms of Complaint in English

Meaning

Example

compliment

/ˈkɒmplɪmənt/

a remark that expresses approval, admiration, or respect

She received a lovely compliment from her colleague on her presentation skills. 

commendation

/ˌkɒmenˈdeɪʃn/

praise, or an official statement that praises someone

The organization received a commendation from the community for their outstanding charitable work.

appreciation

/əˌpriːʃiˈeɪʃn/

the act of recognizing or understanding that something is valuable, important, or as described

The teacher expressed her appreciation for the students' hard work and dedication. 

Exercise 1

1. A

2. A

3. C

4. D

5. D

Exercise 2

1. against

2. about

3. against

4. to

5. from