Complication
/ˌkɒmplɪˈkeɪʃən/
Definitions
3 meaningsA factor or situation that makes something difficult or complex, or that makes a problem worse.
/ˌkɒmplɪˈkeɪʃən/
A factor that makes something more difficult.
The unexpected illness caused a complication in the family's vacation plans.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're trying to bake a cake, but then you run out of eggs. That's a complication – something unexpected that makes things harder.
👶 For kids: Something that makes a problem or task harder.
More Examples
One major complication was the lack of funding for the project.
The complications of the legal case are expected to take years to resolve.
How It's Used
"The patient developed a complication after surgery."
"The project faced several complications due to unforeseen issues."
"Their relationship was a complication they were unprepared for."
An adverse or secondary consequence that results from a medical treatment or procedure.
/ˌkɒmplɪˈkeɪʃən/
An undesirable secondary effect of a medical treatment.
The surgery carried a risk of serious complications.
💡 Simply: After you get a vaccine, sometimes you might get a fever. That's a possible complication of the vaccine – it's a side effect.
👶 For kids: When something goes wrong after you get medicine or a doctor does something to help you.
More Examples
The doctor warned her about the potential complications of the treatment.
One of the complications was an infection at the incision site.
How It's Used
"The drug had several possible complications."
An intricate or complex situation or matter.
/ˌkɒmplɪˈkeɪʃən/
The financial regulations added several complications to the business plan.
💡 Simply: Imagine a detective trying to solve a mystery, with lots of clues and suspects. All those clues are the complications that make the mystery harder to figure out.
👶 For kids: When something is hard to understand because it has lots of parts.
More Examples
The case involved many layers of complications, making it difficult to find a solution.
Their relationship became rife with complications.
How It's Used
"The situation has many legal complications."
"Adding a child introduced a new layer of complications."
From Late Latin *complicatio* ('a folding together, complication'), from the verb *complicare* ('to fold together, intertwine'), from *com-* ('together') + *plicare* ('to fold').
The word 'complication' has been used since the 16th century, initially referring to a complex or intricate state of affairs.
Memory tip
Think of a complicated knot – each twist is a complication.