complaisance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, literary
Quick answer
What does “complaisance” mean?
A willingness to please others or to accept what they do or say without protest.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A willingness to please others or to accept what they do or say without protest.
A disposition to be accommodating, obliging, or yielding to the wishes of others, often to maintain harmony or avoid conflict.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and usage are identical. The word is equally rare and formal in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more likely to be encountered in British literary or historical contexts, but the difference is minimal.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both corpora. More common in 18th-19th century texts than in contemporary usage.
Grammar
How to Use “complaisance” in a Sentence
[Subject] showed complaisance towards [Object][Subject] acted with complaisance[Subject] out of complaisance [Verb Phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “complaisance” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - The verb is 'comply' or 'acquiesce'. 'Complaisance' is a noun only.
American English
- N/A - The verb is 'comply' or 'acquiesce'. 'Complaisance' is a noun only.
adverb
British English
- She nodded complaisantly, though she privately disagreed.
American English
- He agreed complaisantly to their demands.
adjective
British English
- Her complaisant attitude made her popular with the committee.
American English
- He was far too complaisant during the contract negotiations.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might describe a negotiating style overly eager to concede.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, history, or sociology to describe social deference.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Not used in technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “complaisance”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “complaisance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “complaisance”
- Misspelling as 'complacence' or 'complacency'.
- Using it to mean 'complaint'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Complaisance' is a disposition or willingness to please, often from good nature. 'Compliance' is the act of conforming to a rule, request, or authority, often more formal or obligatory.
No, it is a low-frequency, formal word. In most contexts, words like 'agreeableness', 'willingness to please', or 'accommodating nature' are more common.
Yes, it can imply being too eager to please, lacking in principles, or being weak-willed, depending on the context (e.g., 'his political complaisance').
The adjective is 'complaisant'. It describes a person who is willing to please or accept what others want.
A willingness to please others or to accept what they do or say without protest.
Complaisance is usually formal, literary in register.
Complaisance: in British English it is pronounced /kəmˈpleɪz(ə)ns/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəmˈpleɪs(ə)ns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Bend over backwards (informal equivalent in spirit)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'COMPLAIsance' sounds like 'comply' + 'sance' – a 'sance' (act) of complying to please others.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL HARMONY IS A SMOOTH SURFACE (maintained by complaisance).
Practice
Quiz
Which word is a NEAR synonym for 'complaisance'?