COMPLACENT


Meaning of COMPLACENT in English

[ kəm'pleɪs(ə)nt ]

■ adjective smug and uncritically satisfied with oneself or one's achievements.

Derivatives

complacency (also complacence ) noun

~ly adverb

Origin

C17 (earlier (ME) as complacence ), in the sense 'pleasant': from L. ~- , complacere 'to please'.

Usage

The words ~ and complaisant are sometimes confused: ~ means ‘smug and self-satisfied’, whereas complaisant means ‘willing to please’.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.