Question

grievance

Accepted Answer

griev‧ance /ˈɡriːvəns/ noun [uncountable and countable]
a belief that you have been treated unfairly, or an unfair situation or event that affects and upsets you:
anyone who has a legitimate grievance against the company
a means of overcoming genuine grievances
There must be an opportunity for both sides to air their grievances.
The teachers’ contract established a grievance procedure.
the sense of grievance which characterized him as a young man
COLLOCATIONS
adjectives
a genuine grievance (=one that is definitely true) He felt that he had a genuine grievance and was prepared to take the company to court over the matter.
a legitimate grievance (=one that is reasonable) Many people feel that the rebels have a legitimate grievance.
an old grievance (=one that you have felt unhappy about for a long time) Years later, we became friends again and sorted out our old grievances.
a personal grievance He has no personal grievance against Frank.
verbs
have a grievance (against somebody) I had no grievance against him.
air your grievances (=tell people you think you have been treated unfairly) These committees act as a forum for various groups to air their grievances.
nurse a grievance (=think a lot or for a long time about the fact you have been treated unfairly) He was nursing a grievance about not being picked for the team.
file a grievance American English (=officially complain) She filed a grievance after failing to get a promotion.
settle a grievance (=solve one) The union decided to settle its grievance in the law courts.
redress/remedy a grievance formal (=do something to make a problem better) Governments which have not redressed genuine grievances often pay a heavy price later on.
grievance + NOUN
a grievance procedure (=a system for dealing with employees' grievances) You should pursue your complaint through the company's grievance procedure.
phrases
a sense of grievance (=when you feel that you have been treated unfairly) Anti-Americanism in these countries comes from a deep sense of grievance against the United States.
a source of grievance (=something that causes grievance ) Salaries are a traditional source of grievance in industry.
THESAURUS
complaint something that you say or write when you are complaining, especially to someone in an official position: If you have any complaints, please contact our customer relations department. | Our main complaint is the poor standard of service. | If you have a complaint, you should write to the manager. | make a complaint: Some employees are worried about what will happen to them if they make a complaint. | complaint about: Keating was dismissed after complaints about the quality of his work. | formal complaint: Mr Kelly has made a formal complaint against the police. | letters of complaint: The commission has so far received nearly 10,000 letters of complaint.
protest when someone complains publicly about something that they think is wrong or unfair and should not be allowed to happen: Despite their protests, the students’ fees were increased. | in protest (=as a way of making a protest): When two members of the team were dismissed, the rest of them walked out in protest. | protest against: The ambassador lodged a formal protest against the proposals. | ignore somebody’s protests: Ignoring my protests, he took off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders.
grievance something that you feel unhappy about because you think that you have been treated unfairly – use this especially about an official complaint you make about the place where you work: file a grievance (=officially complain): She filed a grievance last year after her supervisor refused to promote her. | grievance against: Anyone who has a legitimate grievance against the company can take it to the arbitration committee. | air a grievance (=discuss a grievance publicly): The meetings give employees the opportunity to express their views or air grievances.

Grievance Complaint Treated Air Legitimate Genuine Formal Make