complacency

/kəmˈpleɪsənˌsiː/

//kəmˈpleɪsənˌsiː// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"complacency" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“complacency” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #27,093 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#27,093
frequency rank, English
11
letters
18
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A feeling of contented self-satisfaction, especially when unaware of upcoming trouble.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

complacency vs complacent
82% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for complacency
PropertyValue
Headwordcomplacency
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/kəmˈpleɪsənˌsiː/
Letters11
Frequency rank#27,093
Misspellings tracked18
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “complacency” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). complacency lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for complacency is 11 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kəmˈpleɪsənˌsiː/. Corpus data places it at rank #27,093 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 18 likely wrong-spelling variants for complacency, with forms such as "ccomplacency", "cmoplacency", and "comlpacency". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "complacent", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Late Middle English complacence, from Late Latin complacentia. Compare French complaisance. The correct English form is complacency, spelled C-O-M-P-L-A-C-E-N-C-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    A feeling of contented self-satisfaction, especially when unaware of upcoming trouble.
  2. 2
    An instance of self-satisfaction.
  3. 3
    Passivity as a result of contentment with the current situation.

Etymology

Late Middle English complacence, from Late Latin complacentia. Compare French complaisance.

This word in other languages

suficiencia(Español)suffisance(Français)Selbstzufriedenheit(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccomplacency,cmoplacency,comlpacency,commplacency,compalcency,complaccency,complacecny,complacenccy,complacencyy,complacenncy,complacenyc,complacnecy,complaecncy,complcaency,compllacency,compplacency,copmlacency,ocmplacency

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of complacency - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ccomplacency1cmoplacency2comlpacency2commplacency1compalcency2complaccency1complacecny2complacenccy1
Edit distance from "complacency"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "complacency"?
"complacency" is spelled C-O-M-P-L-A-C-E-N-C-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /kəmˈpleɪsənˌsiː/.
What does "complacency" mean?
As a noun, "complacency" means: A feeling of contented self-satisfaction, especially when unaware of upcoming trouble.
What words are commonly confused with "complacency"?
"complacency" is commonly confused with "complacent". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "complacency"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "complacency" is /kəmˈpleɪsənˌsiː/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "complacency"?
Late Middle English complacence, from Late Latin complacentia. Compare French complaisance. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “complacency”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-O-M-P-L-A-C-E-N-C-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /kəmˈpleɪsənˌsiː/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “complacent” - see the side-by-side comparison. complacency vs complacent
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list