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complication

noun
com路​pli路​ca路​tion | \ 藢k盲m-pl蓹-藞k膩-sh蓹n How to pronounce complication (audio) \

Definition of complication

1a : complexity, intricacy especially : a situation or a detail of character complicating the main thread of a plot
b : a making difficult, involved, or intricate
c : a complex or intricate feature or element
d : a difficult factor or issue often appearing unexpectedly and changing existing plans, methods, or attitudes
2 : a secondary disease or condition developing in the course of a primary disease or condition
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Examples of complication in a Sentence

The negotiations stalled when complications arose. Pneumonia is a common complication of AIDS. She experienced complications during her pregnancy. The patient died of complications from surgery.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Romance radio star Delilah endured unimaginable heartbreak in recent years, with the loss of her 16-year-old son Sammy to complications from sickle cell anemia in 2012, and her 18-year-old son Zack to suicide in 2017. — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE.com, "Radio Host Delilah Says Faith 'Saved My Sanity' After the Death of Two Sons: 'I Choose Joy'," 3 Sep. 2019 The 41-year-old Iraqi national died of complications from diabetes in early August after being deported to Iraq in June. — Scottie Andrew And Laura Ly, CNN, "The body of an Iraqi man who died shortly after ICE deported him has returned to the US for burial," 1 Sep. 2019 The baby eventually died of complications from lack of oxygen when he was born. — Jeremy Gorner, chicagotribune.com, "A disturbing video. A mysterious blue container. An AWOL parolee with a violent history. Chilling details surround the case of a missing Chicago woman," 29 Aug. 2019 Due to complications from a long struggle with endometriosis, Simo was forced to spend the last five months of her pregnancy on bed rest. — Genevieve Field, Marie Claire, "Fidji Simo Is the New Face of Facebook," 16 Aug. 2019 Gillis died July 31 in Thousand Oaks as a result of complications from a fall at his home in Toluca Lake, his family said. — Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, "Richard Gillis, Songwriter on 'The Ballad of Cable Hogue,' Dies at 80," 14 Aug. 2019 Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison died this past Monday in New York of complications from pneumonia. — CBS News, "Passage: Remembering Toni Morrison and D.A. Pennebaker," 11 Aug. 2019 That year her mother had died of complications from lupus, and a friend in the St. Louis area had been killed by the police. — Timothy Williams, New York Times, "The Lives of Ferguson Activists, Five Years Later," 10 Aug. 2019 White died of complications from AIDS at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. — Dawn Mitchell, Indianapolis Star, "Dillinger, Dean and more: 12 famous graves in Indiana," 7 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'complication.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of complication

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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More Definitions for complication

complication

noun
How to pronounce complication (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of complication

: something that makes something harder to understand, explain, or deal with
medical : a disease or condition that happens in addition to another disease or condition : a problem that makes a disease or condition more dangerous or harder to treat

See the full definition for complication in the English Language Learners Dictionary

complication

noun
com路​pli路​ca路​tion | \ 藢k盲m-pl蓹-藞k膩-sh蓹n How to pronounce complication (audio) \

Kids Definition of complication

: something that makes a situation more difficult

complication

noun
com路​pli路​ca路​tion | \ 藢k盲m-pl蓹-藞k膩-sh蓹n How to pronounce complication (audio) \

Medical Definition of complication

: a secondary disease or condition that develops in the course of a primary disease or condition and arises either as a result of it or from independent causes

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More from Merriam-Webster on complication

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with complication

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for complication

Spanish Central: Translation of complication

Nglish: Translation of complication for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of complication for Arabic Speakers

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