complexity
kuhm-PLEHK-sih-tee
Complexity (noun) means the state of having many interconnected parts, making something hard to understand or manage. Example: “Beginners are often put off by the sheer complexity of the instructions.”
noun
1
The state of having many interconnected parts, making something hard to understand or manage.
"Beginners are often put off by the sheer complexity of the instructions."
"The complexity of the tax code frustrates even experienced accountants."
"Managing a project of this complexity requires a skilled team."
How to use complexity
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow complicated or intricate something is.
Common pairings
level of complexity
increasing complexity
reduce complexity
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Word forms
- Plural
- complexities
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Etymology
From complex plus the noun ending -ity.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for complexity
See all rhymes for complexity →Frequently asked questions
What does “complexity” mean?
The word “complexity” means the state of having many interconnected parts, making something hard to understand or manage. In plain terms, how complicated or intricate something is.
How do you pronounce “complexity”?
“Complexity” is pronounced kuhm-PLEHK-sih-tee (/kəmˈplɛk.sɪ.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “complexity” in a sentence?
Here is “complexity” used in a sentence: “The complexity of the tax code frustrates even experienced accountants.”
What is another word for “complexity”?
Words with a similar meaning to “complexity” include complicacy, complexness, complicate, complicatedness, complication and complicity.
What is the opposite of “complexity”?
The opposite of “complexity” — its antonyms — are simplicity, incomplexity and uncomplexity.
What part of speech is “complexity”?
“Complexity” is a noun.
Is “complexity” a common word?
“Complexity” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between complexity and complication?
Complexity is the state of having many interconnected parts, which makes something hard to understand or manage. A complication is a specific added difficulty that makes a situation worse, as in a medical complication. Complexity describes a system's overall character; a complication is one unwelcome extra.
What is the difference between complexity and complicity?
They look similar but are unrelated. Complexity means having many interconnected parts; complicity means involvement in wrongdoing, as in "complicity in the fraud." Swapping one for the other is a common and meaning-changing mistake.
What is the difference between complexity and difficulty?
Difficulty measures how hard something is to do; complexity describes one reason it may be hard — having many interconnected parts to understand or manage. A task can be difficult without being complex, like lifting a boulder, and complex without feeling difficult to an expert.
What is the difference between complexity and intricacy?
Intricacy emphasizes fine, detailed interweaving, such as the intricacy of lacework. Complexity emphasizes the number of interconnected parts and the resulting challenge of understanding or managing the whole, so it is the usual choice for systems, problems, and organizations.
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