grievance
GREE-vuns
/ˈɡriːvəns/
A real or imagined wrong or other cause for complaint or protest, especially unfair treatment.
Implies a formal, deep-seated feeling of resentment over being wronged, rather than a simple, passing complaint.
The story behind the word. Comes from the Old French 'grever' (to burden or oppress), which traces back to the Latin 'gravis', meaning heavy. A grievance is literally a heavy burden of injustice that you carry on your shoulders.
Word relationships
- complaint: A complaint can be minor and informal, while a grievance is typically a formal, structured claim of unfair treatment.
- gratification: Gratification is a feeling of pleasure or satisfaction, the opposite of a grievance.
Commonly confused with
- grief: Grief is deep sorrow caused by loss (like a death), while a grievance is resentment caused by unfair treatment.
Word family
- grieve (verb): To feel deep sadness or to cause distress to someone.
Collocations
- file a grievance
- address a grievance
- air grievances
Idioms & expressions
- have an axe to grind
Example sentences
- "The employees filed a formal grievance against their supervisor for unfair working hours." Workplace Relations
- "The citizens marched to the capital to air their grievances against the government." Civil Rights
Memory hook
Grievance: A 'grief-causing' 'grievous' wrong that you complain about. A heavy burden of injustice.
When not to use
Do not use for minor, trivial annoyances (like a slow internet connection); a grievance is a serious matter of perceived injustice.
Fun facts
- The US Declaration of Independence is essentially a massive list of 27 formal grievances against King George III, detailing exactly why the colonies felt oppressed.
Related words
Explore more words
resentful, resentment, redress, embittered, indignant, avenge
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