Definition

1. Noun:
   • A factor or circumstance that makes something more difficult or complex: A "complication" is something that makes a situation harder to understand, manage, or resolve.
   • (Medicine) A secondary disease or condition that develops during the course of a primary illness: In medical contexts, a "complication" is an unfavorable evolution of a disease, health condition, or medical treatment.
   • The state of being intricate or complicated: "Complication" can refer to the quality of being complex and involved.

Examples of Usage

• General Context:
  • The negotiations hit a major complication when new financial data was revealed.
  • Adding another requirement at this stage is an unnecessary complication.
• Medical Context:
  • The most common complication of diabetes is nerve damage.
  • The surgery was successful, but the patient later developed a pulmonary complication.

Advanced Usage

• "To complicate matters further": This phrase is often used to introduce an additional complication.
  • The main road was closed, and to complicate matters further, it started to rain heavily.
• "A complication arises": A formal way to state that a new problem has appeared.
  • Just as we finalized the plan, a new complication arose regarding the delivery schedule.

Variants and Related Words

• Complicate (verb): To make something more difficult or complex.
  • Please do not complicate the issue with irrelevant details.
• Complicated (adjective): Consisting of many interconnected parts; complex.
  • The instructions were too complicated for a beginner to follow.

Synonyms

• Complexity: The state of having many parts and being difficult to understand.
• Difficulty: A thing that is hard to accomplish, deal with, or understand.
• Ramification: A complex or unwelcome consequence of an action or event. (Often used in plural: ).

Related Phrases

• Without complication: Simply and without unexpected problems.
  • We hope the project proceeds without complication.
• A source of complication: Something that causes complexity or problems.
  • The lack of clear communication was a constant source of complication.

Idioms

• "To add a complication to the mix": To introduce an additional problem into an already complex situation.
  • His sudden departure really added a complication to the mix for the team.

Noun

1. puzzling complexity
2. a development that complicates a situation
   • the court's decision had many unforeseen ramifications
3. any disease or disorder that occurs during the course of (or because of) another disease
   • bed sores are a common complication in cases of paralysis
4. a situation or condition that is complex or confused
   • her coming was a serious complication
5. the act or process of complicating