complex sentence

noun

a sentence containing one or more dependent clauses in addition to the main clause, as When the bell rings (dependent clause), walk out (main clause).

Origin of complex sentence

First recorded in 1880–85

Words nearby complex sentence

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British Dictionary definitions for complex sentence

complex sentence

noun

grammar a sentence containing at least one main clause and one subordinate clause

Cultural definitions for complex sentence

complex sentence

A sentence that contains one main clause or independent clause and at least one subordinate clause or dependent clause: “Although I am tired (subordinate clause), I want to go to the midnight movie (main clause).” (See subordination; compare compound sentence, compound-complex sentence, and simple sentence.)