noun

complacency

kuhm-PLAY-suhn-see

noun

A feeling of comfortable self-satisfaction that makes someone unaware of a coming problem.

"Years of success led to complacency, and the company was blindsided by a new rival."

"Safety inspectors warned against complacency after the incident-free year."

How to Use Complacency

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBeing too comfortable and satisfied to notice or worry about a problem that's building up.

Common mistake

Complacency is usually a criticism — it implies a dangerous lack of vigilance, not simple contentment.

Common pairings

breed complacency guard against complacency a sense of complacency

complacencies plural

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Years of success led to _____, and the company was blindsided by a new rival.

From Late Latin complacentia, related to complacere, "to please greatly."

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