grievance
B2Formal to neutral. Common in official, legal, and HR contexts.
Definition
Meaning
a real or imagined cause for complaint, especially unfair treatment.
A formal statement of a complaint about something believed to be wrong or unfair, often lodged in a workplace or legal context. Also, a persistent feeling of resentment stemming from a past wrong.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a sense of injustice and often a desire for redress. Can refer to both the feeling of resentment and the formal complaint itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major semantic differences. 'Grievance procedure' is the standard term in both varieties for a formal process.
Connotations
Equally formal in both dialects. Slightly more common in UK institutional language (e.g., trade unions).
Frequency
Comparable frequency; slightly higher in UK due to established industrial relations terminology.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have a grievance against someonelodge a grievance with someone/bodya grievance about/over/concerning somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “nurse a grievance”
- “air one's grievances”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a formal complaint by an employee, handled via a grievance procedure.
Academic
Used in political science, history, and sociology to discuss causes of conflict or discontent.
Everyday
A strong feeling that you have been treated unfairly.
Technical
In law, a complaint filed in a court or with an ombudsman; in HR, a step in dispute resolution.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The union will grieve the decision.
- Employees can grieve disciplinary actions.
American English
- The union will grieve the termination.
- She grieved the unfair promotion policy.
adjective
British English
- The grievant employee attended the hearing.
- A grievance-led strike was averted.
American English
- The grievant worker filed an appeal.
- Grievance-based lawsuits are costly.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He has a grievance about his new desk.
- She decided to file a grievance with the human resources department.
- The manager agreed to hear their grievances about the new shift patterns.
- Historical grievances between the two communities continue to impede reconciliation efforts.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'grieve' + 'ance' – a grievance is something that causes you to grieve or feel wronged.
Conceptual Metaphor
A GRIEVANCE IS A BURDEN (to carry/nurse), A GRIEVANCE IS A WOUND (to nurse), A GRIEVANCE IS AN OBJECT (to file/lodge/air).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как "горе" (grief/sorrow).
- Ближе по значению к "жалоба", "обида", "претензия" (formal complaint/resentment).
- Избегайте кальки "гривенс".
Common Mistakes
- Using 'grievance' for minor annoyances (too strong).
- Confusing with 'grief' (sadness).
- Incorrect preposition: 'grievance *on' instead of 'grievance against/with/about'.
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase best describes 'nursing a grievance'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, but it can be used informally to describe a strong personal sense of being wronged.
A grievance is typically more formal, serious, and implies an injustice, often within an established procedure. A complaint can be minor and informal.
Not commonly. The related verb is 'to grieve' (a decision), used mainly in US/Canadian labour law contexts.
Common patterns: a grievance *against* a person, *with* an authority, *about* or *over* an issue, *concerning* a policy.