complaint [L, complangere, to beat the breast] , 1. (in law) a pleading by a plaintiff made under oath to initiate a suit. It is a statement of the formal charge and the cause for action against the defendant. For a minor offense the defendant is tried on the basis of the complaint. A more serious felony prosecution requires an indictment with evidence presented by a state’s attorney. 2. (Informal) any ailment, problem, or symptom identified by the client, patient, member of the person’s family, or other knowledgeable person. The chief complaint often causes the person to seek health care.
