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complexity

Etymology and origin of the English word complexity

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1661
Ultimate origin
English (complex)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /kəmˈplɛk.sɪ.ti/[1]

Etymology

It is from complex with the suffix -ity,[2][3] compare French complexité.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Composite nature or structure: 1661 in Merriam-Webster, before 1721 in the OED, 1721 in Etymonline.[4][5][2]

Semantic evolution

Intricacy, an involved nature, is from 1790,[2][5] and a complex condition, a complication, from 1794.[2][5] In mathematics, computational complexity, a measure of the difficulty of a computation, is from 1963.[5]

Timeline

  • 1661 – first known use.[4]
  • 1721 – composite nature.[2]
  • 1790 – intricacy.[5]
  • 1794 – a complication.[5]
  • 1963 – computational complexity.[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The state or quality of being complex or intricate.
  2. Something complex; a complication.

Word family

  • overcomplexity
  • complicate
  • complex
  • complicated
  • simplicity

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Complexity.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/complexity. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·