Grievance

//ˈɡɹiː.vəns// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Something which causes grief. countable
  2. 2
    a complaint about a (real or imaginary) wrong that causes resentment and is grounds for action wordnet
  3. 3
    A wrong or hardship suffered, which is the grounds of a complaint. countable

    "[T]he King is vveary / Of daintie and ſuch picking greeuances, / For he hath found, to end one doubt by death, / Reuiues tvvo greater in the heires of life: […]"

  4. 4
    an allegation that something imposes an illegal obligation or denies some legal right or causes injustice wordnet
  5. 5
    Feelings of being wronged; outrage; resentment, bitterness or anger. uncountable

    "The issues of harassment and/or bullying was the top common source of grievance, followed by discipline, and then new working practices."

Show 4 more definitions
  1. 6
    a resentment strong enough to justify retaliation wordnet
  2. 7
    A complaint or annoyance. countable
  3. 8
    A formal complaint, especially in the context of a unionized workplace. countable

    "If you want the problem fixed, you'll have to file a grievance with the city."

  4. 9
    Violation of regulations or objectionable behavior. uncountable

    "Indeed I do confess, that many times I have showed myself both less provident and less paiful for the benefit of the commonwealth, tha I should, or might, or intended to do hereafter; and have in many actions more respected the satisfying of my own particular humour, than either justice to some private persons, or the common good of all ; yet I did not at any time either omit duty or commit grievance, upon natural dulness or set malice; but partly by abuse of corrupt counsellors, partly by error of my youthful judgement."

Etymology

From Old French grievance, from the verb grever (“to irritate; to bother; to annoy”) + -ance, equivalent to grieve + -ance.

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