From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgrievancegriev‧ance /ˈɡriːvəns/ ●○○ noun [countable, uncountable] COMPLAINa 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 manCOLLOCATIONSadjectivesa 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 grievanceHe has no personal grievance against Frank. verbshave 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 + NOUNa grievance procedure (=a system for dealing with employees' grievances)You should pursue your complaint through the company's grievance procedure.phrasesa 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.
Examples from the Corpus
grievance• She filed a grievance last year after her supervisor refused to promote her.• The meetings give employees the opportunity to express their views or air grievances.• This meeting was to air grievances and ease our transition into the future.• And Mr Arbor has another grievance against the Merc.• Keep Titania tough, springy and challenging: this speech is an accusation, and the expression of her grievance against Oberon.• Anyone who has a legitimate grievance against the company can take it to the arbitration committee.• She is expected to implement measures to address the popular grievances that have helped to fuel the mutiny.• In 1773 the grievance committee ofthe Separate Baptists resolved to press their case.• Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.sense of grievance• Many Native Americans still feel a deep sense of grievance for what the government did to them in the past.• The most skilled and literate combined the keenest sense of grievance with the ability to articulate their aspirations.• Others developed a monumental sense of grievance.• There was no sense of grievance.• In short, their sense of grievance was fed.• Because of the underlying sense of grievance numerous situations could have been interpreted as yet further evidence of white imperialism.From Longman Business Dictionarygrievancegriev‧ance /ˈgriːvəns/ noun1[countable]HUMAN RESOURCES a complaint made by a worker to an employer, usually because they feel they have been treated unfairlyAll shopfloor grievances will be passed on to management.You must pursue your complaint through the grievance procedure (=the system that a company has to examine and discuss workers’ complaints).2[countable, uncountable] the feeling that you have been treated unfairly by someoneAlthough she had been effectively demoted, she felt no grounds for grievance.grievance againstThe fire may have been started by someone with a grievance against the oil industry. 