complication
B2Formal-neutral
Definition
Meaning
A problem or difficulty that makes a situation harder to deal with or understand.
1. A secondary disease or condition that worsens a primary one. 2. An intricate or complicated element of a story or situation. 3. A state of complexity or intricate combination of parts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
While neutral in tone, it often implies an unwelcome, added layer of difficulty. In medical contexts, it is a precise technical term.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Slightly more frequent in formal British contexts (e.g., 'further complications arose'). In American English, common in both formal and medical registers.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
complication (of something)complication (for someone/something)complication (in something)lead to a complicationarise as a complicationVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to complicate matters”
- “a plot complication”
- “throw a complication into the works”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to unexpected problems in a project or deal: 'The merger hit a legal complication.'
Academic
Describing complex factors in a theory or analysis: 'The study acknowledges several methodological complications.'
Everyday
Talking about problems in plans: 'Our holiday plans have encountered a slight complication.'
Technical
Primarily medical: 'The patient developed a pulmonary complication after surgery.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new evidence could complicate the investigation further.
American English
- We don't want to complicate the process with unnecessary rules.
adverb
British English
- The situation developed complicatedly over several weeks.
American English
- The plot unfolded complicatedly, with many twists.
adjective
British English
- It's a highly complicated legal matter.
American English
- The instructions were unnecessarily complicated.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bad weather caused a complication for our picnic.
- There was a small complication with my travel visa, but it's sorted now.
- A last-minute complication in the negotiations delayed the signing of the contract.
- The novel's narrative is enriched by the moral complications faced by the protagonist.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PLICATION (a fold) becoming COM-PLICATED with many folds, making it hard to smooth out.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROBLEMS ARE KNOTS / TANGLES (e.g., 'untangle a complication').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation from Russian 'компликация' in non-medical contexts, as the Russian word is more narrowly medical. Use 'problem', 'difficulty', or 'issue' for general situations.
- Do not confuse with 'compliment' (комплимент).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a countable noun without an article when singular: 'This is complication' (incorrect) vs. 'This is a complication' (correct).
- Confusing 'complication' (noun) with 'complicate' (verb).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'complication' used most precisely?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, as it denotes an added problem. In literature or film, a 'plot complication' is a neutral narrative device.
A 'complication' is often a secondary problem that arises from an existing situation, making it more complex. A 'problem' can be primary or standalone.
Rarely. Its core meaning is an unwelcome difficulty. One might speak of a 'welcome complication' ironically or in very specific contexts (e.g., a challenging but interesting puzzle).
Use it to name a secondary, adverse health condition: 'Diabetes can lead to complications such as nerve damage or vision problems.'
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