GRIEVANCE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does grievance mean? 

• GRIEVANCE (noun)
  The noun GRIEVANCE has 3 senses:

1. a resentment strong enough to justify retaliation

2. an allegation that something imposes an illegal obligation or denies some legal right or causes injustice

3. a complaint about a (real or imaginary) wrong that causes resentment and is grounds for action

  Familiarity information: GRIEVANCE used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GRIEVANCE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A resentment strong enough to justify retaliation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

grievance; grudge; score

Context example:

settling a score

Hypernyms ("grievance" is a kind of...):

bitterness; gall; rancor; rancour; resentment (a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An allegation that something imposes an illegal obligation or denies some legal right or causes injustice

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("grievance" is a kind of...):

allegation ((law) a formal accusation against somebody (often in a court of law))

Sense 3

Meaning:

A complaint about a (real or imaginary) wrong that causes resentment and is grounds for action

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("grievance" is a kind of...):

complaint (an expression of grievance or resentment)

 Context examples 

They loved to grumble, those old salts, for as soon as one had shot off his grievance his neighbour would follow with another, each more bitter than the last.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There are no better instruments than discharged servants with a grievance, and I was lucky enough to find one.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There was one circumstance in the history of her grievances of particular irritation.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Mrs. Bennet had many grievances to relate, and much to complain of.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

As far as you are personally concerned, remarked Holmes, I do not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary league.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Mercedes nursed a special grievance—the grievance of sex.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

These are something like grievances, and make me think the weather most unseasonably close.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

The old well-established grievance of duty against will, parent against child, was the cause of all.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Had it taken place only once a year, it would have been a grievance.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Leastways, if you don't, I do; and I wait here—and I'm still your cap'n, mind—till you outs with your grievances and I reply; in the meantime, your black spot ain't worth a biscuit.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)