complexity

/kəmˈpleksəti/ (bre, ipa) · /kəmˈpleksəti/ (ame, ipa) · /kəm-ˈplek-sə-tē käm-/ (ame, mw)

complexity — noun

1. a state in which a thing has many connected pieces, making it hard to grasp, exp

1.名詞C2
釋義

a state in which a thing has many connected pieces, making it hard to grasp, explain, or handle

例句

The complexity of the human brain continues to surprise neuroscientists every year.

uncountable: the complexity of [noun]

Aiko was surprised by the complexity of the visa application process.

同義詞
  • intricacy

    focuses on fine detail and delicate connections rather than general difficulty

  • complication

    suggests something that makes a situation harder, often unexpectedly

反義詞
  • simplicity

    the opposite quality of being easy to understand because there are few parts

文法句型

the complexity of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Uncountable noun. Frequently followed by 'of' plus a noun phrase that names the thing being described. Common in academic and technical writing.

常見錯誤

❌The complexity of these problems are overwhelming.
✅The complexity of these problems is overwhelming.
💡complexity is uncountable, so the verb must be singular (is / was).
❌I was amazed by the complexities of the night sky.' (when referring to the general state)
✅I was amazed by the complexity of the night sky.
💡For the abstract quality, use the singular uncountable form.

2. the individual elements within a system or situation that create difficulty when

2.名詞
釋義

the individual elements within a system or situation that create difficulty when trying to understand or deal with it

例句

The lawyer explained the legal complexities of signing the international trade deal.

plural noun: the complexities of [something]

Leila learned the complexities of managing a team across three different time zones.

同義詞
  • nuance

    emphasises small, subtle differences rather than overall difficulty

  • subtlety

    focuses on fine distinctions that are not obvious at first

文法句型

the complexities of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Almost always used in the plural form (complexities) when referring to specific difficult features. The singular form (a complexity) occurs but is less common and tends to refer to a single difficult aspect.

常見錯誤

❌The complexity of the new rules confuse me.' (when referring to specific features)
✅The complexities of the new rules confuse me.
💡Use the plural when pointing to multiple difficult details.